Despite rallying to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Martinsville Mustangs fell short 6-5 in ten innings to the High Point-Thomasville HiToms in the Coastal Plain League opener at Hooker Field on Thursday night.

Right-hander Patrick Halligan (George Mason) made his first official start of the summer, allowing only three hits, one earned run and striking out four in five innings of work.

The Mustangs (0-1) opened the scoring in the home half of the first when Joe Simone (Gardner-Webb) singled and later scampered home on passed ball to make it 1-0. The HiToms (1-0) responded with one run in both the second and third innings to grab a 2-1 lead.

Kevin Kopps (Arkansas) and lefty Corey Spain (Arkansas) both saw two innings of action on the mound for Martinsville, allowing a combined two runs and striking out five.

HPT held a 4-3 lead until the ninth when Matt Goodheart (Arkansas) doubled to begin the inning and third baseman Brady Slavens (Arkansas) singled him home with two outs to tie the contest 4-4.

After the HiToms scored twice in the tenth to make it 6-4, a bases loaded walk issued to Jimmy Losh (Millersville) made it just a one-run deficit but the Mustangs were unable to squeeze anything else across.

Martinsville returns to action Friday night for game two against High Point-Thomasville. First pitch from Hooker Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.

View full box score.

Photo courtesy of Brian Cendejas

About the Mustangs:

The Mustangs are celebrating 16 seasons of Coastal Plain League baseball at historic Hooker Field in 2020. For news and ticket information visit www.martinsvillemustangs.com or call 276-403-5250. The team can also be reached by email at [email protected]. Follow the Mustangs on on Facebook and Instagram @MartinsvilleMustangs and on Twitter @MVilleMustangs. Media Contact: Connor Akeman, [email protected]

About the CPL:

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 24th season in 2020, the CPL features 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,600 alumni drafted and 131 alums – including 2017 ALCS MVP, 2017 World Series champion, 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander, as well as 2017 NLCS MVP Chris Taylor – make their Major League debut. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball.