Steamers Stroll to Sixth Straight Win in Shutout over Greenbrier

By: Patrick Foster

Edenton, NC– The Edenton Steamers extended their TSL leading win streak to six games and improved to 11-4 in the 2020 summer with a 10-0 shutout victory over the Greenbrier Knights on Saturday night at Historic Hicks Field. The win gives the Steamers a four-game advantage over the second place Old Dominion Hitters (6-6).

Edenton scored their first run of the contest courtesy of an RBI single from left fielder Houston Wright into right field scoring Brody Rubenstein. Rubenstein has now crossed home plate as a runner 15 times in 2020.

Edenton quickly expanded their lead to five with a four-run bottom of the second. Brody Rubenstein, Jared Kauffman and Houston Wright all earned RBIs in the inning while Wright collected his tenth home run of the season with a two-run home run to right field.

Wright earned his fourth and final RBI of the night in the bottom of the fourth with a single to Knights’ shortstop Trent Hanchey that brought in Jared Kauffman. Wright then came across to score via a Josiah Sightler single to right field to make it 7-0.

The Steamers went on to score one run in each of the fifth, seventh and eighth innings. Alan Alonso earned his two RBIs with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and an RBI single to left scoring Adam Fine while Casey Haire earned his only RBI of the night with a single to right in the bottom of the seventh.

Joe Kemlage made his first start for the Steamers this summer and completed four full innings on the mound for Edenton in which he allowed no runs to score on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Relief pitcher Ryan Kutz earned the win after two innings allowing no runs on just two hits, no walks and one strikeout.

Greenbrier starter Shane McCarthy picked up the loss after two innings in which he surrendered five runs, all of them earned, on five hits with three walks given up and three punch outs.

Edenton saw five total pitchers take the mound including Kemlage, Kutz, Brett Fulk, Kyle Reynolds and Aaron Copeland. The five slingers walked just one Greenbrier batter collectively while striking out 14.

Despite the shutout, Edenton and Greenbrier finished the contest tied in hits with 10 a side. Houston Wright led the way in hits with three including a home run while Jared Kauffman and Tyler Myers each collected two hits on the night.

The Steamers play their next game Monday night on the road against the Tidewater Drillers at Lakewood Park for the teams’ fifth matchup of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.