The High Point-Thomasville HiToms (7-2) crushed the Martinsville Mustangs (5-6) on Wednesday night, 18-3, in the start of a two-game home-and-home series. The HiToms poured in 15 hits and 12 walks over the seven-inning mercy rule win, with ten of the 18 runs coming in the sixth inning.

To start the game, the HiToms received production from the top of their order promptly. Luke Spiva and CJ Johnson singled, leading to an RBI opportunity for the HiToms cleanup batter, Mississippi State’s Von Seibert. Seibert came through with a laser over the right field fence for a three-run home run, his third of the year.

In the third, Hogan Windish smashed his second triple of the year into the right-center field gap, scoring Spiva. The HiToms made it 5-0 with an RBI by CJ Johnson one batter later.

The HiToms batted 15 men in the sixth inning, turning a 5-3 game into a blowout. The HiToms got 10 runs, with two coming on Noah Ledford’s RBI double. In total, the game lasted almost three hours due to the lengthy inning, in which Martinsville used three different relievers. Thomas Caufield hit a home run in the seventh to further expand the lead.

Ben Peterson earned his first win by pitching into the fifth and striking out five Mustangs. Avery Cain and Landen Smith both finished the job with a combined three innings scoreless. In total, HP-T pitching struck out 10 while walking four. In stark contrast, Martinsville walked 12 and struck out seven.

High Point-Thomasville will go for a series sweep of Martinsville on Thursday. Tomorrow is Faith and Family at the ballpark! Join us for a pregame concert from Keith Byrd at 5:45 p.m. before a 7 p.m. first pitch. For live video coverage of the team, head to FloBaseball.tv, and search ‘HiToms’.