Peppers claim series opener, 5-1

GASTONIA, N.C. – The Gastonia Ghost Peppers broke a 1-1 tie with three runs on just one hit in the sixth inning and went on to defeat the High Point Rockers 5-1 on Tuesday night at CaroMont Health Park. It was the opening game of High Point’s final six-game road series of the season.

The loss puts the Rockers at 20-32 in the second half and 49-66 for the season. Gastonia improved to 28-24 and 66-49.

Gastonia used a High Point error to score a single run in the second and take a 1-0 lead. With Cole Roederer at second following a walk and a stolen base off High Point starter Justin Dunn, shortstop Ethan Skender couldn’t handle a grounder up the middle from Jace Rinehart, leaving runners at first and thied. Chris Proctor grounded into a double play as Roederer scored.

Luke Napleton’s league-leading 35^th homer of the season, leading off the fourth inning, tied the game at 1-1.

Dunn went five innings and allowed just two hits in his best start as a Rocker. The lone run he allowed was unearned while walked three and struck out three.

Jayden Voelker relieved Dunn in the sixth and issued a pair of walks before allowing a three-run homer to Cole Roederer that put the Peppers up 4-1. After two hit batters, the Rockers brought in Kenny Leiner who was able to escape any further damage in the inning.

The Rockers put two men on  in the eighth but reliever Taylor Broadway was able to keep the Rockers from scoring. McKinley Moore put High Point down in order in the ninth.

The Rockers were held to five hits in the game but Gastonia managed only four hit. However, Rockers pitchers walked eight and hit three batters in the game. Napleton managed to collect two of the hits, adding an eighth inning single to his home run.

Game two of the series will take place at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at CaroMont Health Park. Rocker fans can follow the action live on DugoutTV.org or the audio broadcast on the free app MixLR.