Clingstones Drop Third-Straight in 5-4 Loss to Pensacola

PENSACOLA, FL., — The Columbus Clingstones (23-29) held leads of 2-0 and 4-2, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (28-28) surged back each time and took a late lead to hand Columbus its third-straight loss on Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Decisive Plays: An RBI fielder's choice from Stephen Paolini gave Columbus a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Columbus built a 2-0 margin on an RBI double from Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. in the top of the fifth. Grant Richardson tied the game for Pensacola with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. The Stones responded with a two-run sixth, featuring an RBI single from Ethan Workinger. The Wahoos punched back with a two-run seventh inning to tie the game at 4-4. An RBI infield single from Mark Coley II gave Pensacola a 5-4 lead in the eighth. The Clingstones were retired in order in the ninth.

Key Contributors: Paolini (0-for-3, 2 RBI) posted his second-straight multi-RBI game while David McCabe (3-for-4, 2 R, 2B) helped to drive the Clingstones on offense. For Pensacola, Richardson (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), Olmstead (0-for-3, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 SB) had big offensive games.

Noteworthy: Columbus falls to 7-10 in 1-run games. The average margin of victory through 11 games between Pensacola and Columbus this season is 1.73 runs. McCabe recorded his ninth multi-hit game of the season and first three-hit game.

Next Game (Sunday, June 8): Columbus at Pensacola, 7:05 pm ET at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 pm ET on Sports Visions 92.1 FM. RHP Brett Sears (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for Columbus opposed by RHP Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (3-2, 4.11 ERA) for Pensacola.

Next Home Game (Tuesday, June 10): Columbus vs. Knoxville, 7:05 pm ET at Synovus Park. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 pm ET on Sports Visions 92.1 FM.