Wild Things fall behind early, lose at Sussex County
AUGUSTA, N.J. – The East Division-leading Sussex County Miners forged an early four-run lead and went on to a 7-4 victory over the Wild Things on Saturday night.
Washington’s loss, combined with Lake Erie’s 9-2 thumping of Evansville, dropped the Wild Things a half-game behind the Crushers in the battle for first place in the Central Division.
Sussex County scored one run in the first inning and added four in the second against Washington starter Zach Kirby (3-4) to take a 5-1 lead. Kirby gave up 11 hits and seven runs over seven innings. He did not issue a walk and struck out only one batter.
The Wild Things closed to within 5-4 by scoring three times in the third on back-to-back home runs. Tommy Caufield, who had an RBI double in the first inning, hit a two-run homer off Sussex County starter Kellen Brothers (6-2) and Wagner Lagrange followed with an opposite-field home run.
The Wild Things, however, would not score again and Sussex County added to its lead in the fourth when Will Zimmerman, the No. 9 batter in the Miners’ lineup, hit a home run. Sussex County added an insurance run in the seventh inning.
Matt Stil retired all three batters he faced – two on strikeouts – for his fifth save.