Porcupines Show their Quills with Home Opener Win

Pineville Porcupines SS Brennan Helms (#7)

After splitting their first two road games of the season, the Pineville Porcupines took the field for their home opener Tuesday night, looking to even up the season series between them and the Wilkes County Moonshiners.

From the very beginning of the game, it was offense aplenty from the Porcupines, who tallied 20 hits on the night. Pineville scored in three of the first four innings, holding a 6-4 lead heading into the fifth. Unfortunately, errors kept Wilkes County within striking distance, as the Moonshiners took a 7-6 lead into the sixth.

The Porcupines would have an answer in the sixth and eventually take a 9-7 lead with a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Another error saw Wilkes County get within one run in the ninth inning before hard-throwing left-hander Isaias Moreno came in to get the final out, preserving a 9-8 victory.

Pineville Porcupines 1B Corbin Wright (#17)

Throughout the night, Braden Mauro was the spark plug offensively, as the third baseman went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Center fielders Riley Stiles and Michael Rogers each delivered the goods as well, combining for four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.

On the mound it was South Carolina native Scout Gilfillan who dominated the Moonshiners, pitching 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball, striking out four and allowing one unearned run.

Looking ahead to the rest of the week, the Porcupines will have away matchups against the Waynesville Hollers and Mooresville Spinners Wednesday and Thursday before a home double-header Friday against the aforementioned Moonshiners.