After allowing two runs in the top of the first, Martinsville Mustangs right-handed starter Patrick Halligan (George Mason) settled in and tossed seven solid innings in a 9-3 divisional victory over the Peninsula Pilots at Hooker Field on Thursday night.

Halligan completed seven full innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out four on 83 pitches to notch his first win of the summer.

The Mustangs (7-3, 2-3 CPL) trimmed the deficit in the second inning when catcher Matt Suggs (UNCW) sent his second home run of the season over the wall in left to make it 2-1.

Trailing 3-1 in the fourth, the Mustangs used another homer from Jack Elliott (Mercyhurst) and an RBI single by outfielder Will Knight (VMI) to even the contest 3-3.

In the fifth, Martinsville took advantage of a Pilots throwing error and a wild pitch before an RBI single from Joe Simone (Gardner-Webb) and a bases loaded walk by Matt Goodheart (Arkansas) helped the Mustangs put up a four-spot and grab a 7-3 lead.

The Mustangs added an insurance run in the seventh on a Simone RBI groundout and another in the eighth when Elliott picked up his second RBI of the game, reaching on a fielder’s choice.

Righty Kevin Heinrich (Arkansas) helped seal the victory, hurling two perfect final innings on the mound.

Martinsville will face Peninsula again on Friday night in the first road contest of the season. First pitch from War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, VA is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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