High Point 4, Gastonia 2
GASTONIA, N.C. – Brandon Backman tossed four-hit ball over six innings while striking out 10 to lead the High Point Rockers to a 4-2 win over Gastonia on Saturday night at CaroMont Health Park.
Backman (W, 2-0) was outstanding all night, yielding a first inning walk but not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. He fanned eight of the first 10 batters he faced before exiting after six innings.
Nolan Watson gave the Rockers a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when his sacrifice fly brought home Nick Longhi who had singled and then moved to third on a double by Drew Mendoza.
A pair of defensive mishaps led to High Point taking a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Mendoza’s line drive to right was dropped by Eric De La Rosa. When Mendoza took off to steal third, the throw from catcher Patrick Mazeika skipped into the outfield, allowing Mendoza to trot home, giving High Point a 2-0 lead.
Gastonia then applied the same tactics as the Rockers had in scoring twice in the fourth inning. Justin Wylie doubled and stole third and when Nolan Watson’s through got away from Mendoza at third, Wylie scored to cut the lead to 2-1. With two outs in the fourth, Narciso Crook doubled to left and Dalton Guthrie did the same, plating Crook with the tying run at 2-2.
High Point took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when, with one out, D.J. Burt singled to left. He then stole both second and third without a throw. After Watson drew a walk from Gastonia reliever Parker Kruglewicz (L, 0-1), Watson stole second, drawing a throw from Mazeika. But Burt took off for the plate as soon as Mazeika threw to second and recorded a steal of home.
Ben Aklinski hit a solo homer with one out in the seventh off reliever Ryan Hennen to stake the Rockers to a 4-2 lead. It was Aklinski’s fourth homer of the year.
Backman went six innings, striking out 10 while allowing just four hits and two runs with a lone walk. Jonah Scolaro came on to start the seventh and put the Peppers down in order. He exited with two on and one out in the eighth, yielding to Tommy Doyle who induced a 5-4-3 double play from Wylie, preserving High Point’s 4-2 lead and earning his third save of the season.
Gastonia starter Connor Grey allowed just three hits over his five innings but walked four with three strikeouts.
High Point plays the final game of the series at Gastonia on Sunday at 4 p.m.
NOTES: Backman’s 10 strikeouts broke his previous club season high of eight set against Southern Maryland on April 27.
Lexington 3, Staten Island 2
Lexington, KY – The Lexington Legends continued their early-season surge Saturday night, eking out a narrow 3-2 win over the Staten Island FerryHawks at Legends Field for their fourth win in a row. With the victory, Lexington improved to 10-4 on the year and remain atop the Atlantic League South Division.
Starter Tanner Tully pitched 5.2 strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven. The bullpen trio of Christian Edwards, Jimmy Loper, and Jonathan Haab combined for 2.1 shutout innings before closer Durbin Feltman slammed the door with his fifth save of the season, maintaining his perfect 0.00 ERA.
Offensively, Andy laced a clutch two-run single to give the Legends a 2-0 lead. The FerryHawks tied it in the sixth on a double by Shayne Fontana, but Lexington reclaimed the lead with Drew Ellis’ fifth homerun in the season to put the Legends on top.
James Meeker took the loss for Staten Island after surrendering the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.
Lexington tallied seven hits in total, including two from Kole Cottam, while keeping Staten Island to six. The Legends also stayed aggressive on the basepaths, with Pedro Gonzalez and Dylan Rock each swiping a bag.
The Legends will look to sweep the three-game series on Sunday. With a 2:00 PM first pitch on Mother’s Day which will also feature a Mother’s Day Brunch in the Lexington Lounge – fans can still reserve their slot for brunch by calling the Legends Group Sales line.
Long Island 1, Lancaster 0
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 10, 2025) – The Long Island Ducks shut out the Lancaster Stormers 1-0 on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
JC Encarnacion’s two-out RBI single up the middle in the fourth inning scored Troy Viola, who doubled, to break the scoreless deadlock and give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. The Stormers managed just two hits and three walks at the plate during the game and never had a runner reach third base.
Ducks starter Zach Plesac (2-1) earned the win. The right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit – a first inning double by Yeison Coca – and two walks while striking out three. Stormers starter Keylan Killgore (0-2) took the loss for Lancaster despite pitching six and one-third innings of one-run ball, yielding five this and three walks with seven strikeouts. Peyton Williams picked up his second save with a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit while striking out one.
Viola led the Ducks offense with two hits, a run and a stolen base.
The Ducks and Stormers wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 12:35 (12:20 for full season ticket holders). It’s a FourLeaf Family Funday Sunday at the ballpark. Prior to the game, fans will be able to enjoy a Catch on the Field from 12:40 until 1:00. After the game, fans are invited back down to the field for Kids Run the Bases. Left-hander Juan Hillman (0-0, 6.51) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Stormers righty Tim Brennan (0-1, 7.36).
Charleston 7, Southern Maryland 2
York 11, Hagerstown 2