Michael Niemann’s (photo by Lance King) bat may have won the game for the SwampDogs in extras… but if not for his glove in the top of the 9th, he may not have had that chance.

Entering the bottom of the 11th 0 for 4 on the night, Niemann delievered the walk-off single off Brennan Dobbins in the bottom of the 11th with the bases loaded to score Shawn Lovette as the SwampDogs walked off for the second time this year to defeat the Wilson Tobs 3-2 in the single-elimination game of the First Round of the CPL Petitt Cup Playoffs.

The SwampDogs had a 2-0 lead heading into the 9th inning and it started off in incredible fashion. Bobby Leeper led off the frame with a line smash off Lee Zerrusen to deep right-center field but Niemann made the catch of the year as he sprung himself into mid-air to take away an extra base hit away from Leeper and record the first out of the inning.

What followed however was a hard ground ball that was misplaced by second baseman Austin Lasprilla to put Jake Astor on first base and then with one out and one on, Matt Zeblo took a Zerrusen fastball over the fence in left field to tie the ballgame up at 2. For Zerrusen, he had entered the game 15 for 15 in save opportunities. Yet despite the right-hander blowing his first save of the summer, without his tenaciousness and edge in the 10th and 11th innings, the Dogs would not have been able to win without him.

After a scoreless 10th and top of the 11th, Airlon Vinson led off the bottom of the inning with his second single of the game and was sacrificed over to second by Austin Lasprilla. Immediately after, Shawn Lovette entered the game as a pinch-runner for Vinson and Matt Kole with first base open was intentionally walked.

Then, with one out and runners on first and second, Eric Grabe lined a pitch down the right field line that just missed being fair according to field umpire JT Cunningham. Lovette, had already crossed the plate and thought he had scored the winning run, but then would have to head back to second base. On the very next pitch, Grabe got plunked in the head by Dobbins, setting up the bases loaded walk-off single from Michael Niemann.

The SwampDogs’ Matt McGovern pitched absolutely brilliant. The righty from Ottawa, Canada took a no-hitter into the 7th inning and pitched a full seven innings of shutout, one hit baseball. McGovern has now shut out the Wilson Tons in the last two ballgames he has faced them with the last game coming at home on July 29th.

The Dogs got their first two runs in the 2nd inning, courtesy of a two-run home run from Tanner Biagini off Trent Howard to give the SwampDogs an early 2-0 lead. Biagini, who celebrated his 20th birthday, took Howard’s pitch clear over the second-tier signs in left-center field for his first homer of the season at “The Swamp.” Howard pitched well for the Tobs in his first game this season against the SwampDogs, lasting 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out eight.

Thursday’s game between the SwampDogs and Tobs ended up matching both teams up for the thirteenth time this year as the two division rivals were selected to play each other in the first round of the Petitt Cup Playoffs Tuesady night. Wilson, the #3 seed had beaten the SwampDogs 16-0 Tuesday with hopes of winning the final home game in the first round. But the Peninsula Pilots defeated the Petersburg Generals to clinch the final home spot and the Outer Banks Daredevils won Game 2 of their doubleheader series vs. the Edenton Steamers which set-up the matchup at JP Riddle Stadium.

Fayetteville will host Game 1 of the Second Round of the CPL Petitt Cup Playoffs Saturday night at JP Riddle Stadium. The gates open at 6pm with the first pitch at 7:05pm. The SwampDogs will either play the #1 seeded Forest City Owls or the #2 Peninsula Pilots, depending on the winner of the #6 Florence RedWolves vs. the #4 Outer Banks Daredevils game. If the RedWolves win, the Dogs play the Pilots. If the Daredevils win, the SwampDogs host the Pilots on Saturday.

The Fayetteville SwampDogs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 13th season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at http://www.coastalplain.com.