(18) Marvin Ridge storms back in seventh to knock out (15) Northwest Guilford
For Marvin Ridge, this season has been a roller coaster... one that it is riding into the second round.
After stumbling into Greensboro having lost four of their last five, the Mavericks rallied from behind with their season on the line to stun Northwest Guilford 6-4.
Nico Soul led off the top of the seventh inning with a game-tying home run. Four batters later, pinch hitter Dean Larkin lifted a fly ball to center to plate the go-ahead run. Drew Walker tacked on insurance with a double, and Patrick Baia slammed the door out of the bullpen to seal the victory.
Just like he did in the seventh, Soul started the game by getting Marvin Ridge on the board. The junior centerfielder turned a walk and two stolen bases into a run following a Tyler Heine two-out single.
Northwest Guilford immediately answered back with a crooked number in its half of the first.
The first four Vikings to step to the plate reached base. Three crossed before the Mavericks were able to record an out.
Blaize Johnson doubled home Cole Price and Reed Benamati, then scored on an error off the bat of Jackson Godfrey.
Northwest's 3-1 advantage held until top of the third.
Soul got Marvin Ridge within a run when he doubled in Riley Matthews. Another Heine RBI single to plate Soul tied the score at 3-3.
Jace Matko gave Northwest Guilford a 4-3 advantage with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth. A hot shot to second base deflected off of the glove of a Maverick and scooted into right allowing Benamati to come home.
Dominic Azzarello tossed 4.2 innings for the Vikings and struck out six. Carter Jackson entered in relief and kept the lead in tact until Marvin Ridge was able to rally in the seventh.
Heine and Baia combined to throw the final 5.2 innings out of the bullpen for Marvin Ridge. The two combined to allow one hit, one unearned run, and seven strikeouts. All four outs that starter Alex Sobol recorded were via strikeout.
Soul finished the night 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two RBI, three stolen bases, and three runs scored.
Waiting in round two is a familiar opponent for the Mavericks in Cuthbertson. The 2-seeded Cavaliers took care of East Mecklenburg 8-0 on Tuesday night.
One of the two blemishes on Cuthbertson's 25-2 record is courtesy of Marvin Ridge who went on the road and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of a 1-0 victory on March 25.
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