Asheboro Offense Ignites in 8-4 Road Victory

Dick Sears Field at Ting Stadium – June 8, 2025

The Asheboro ZooKeepers bounced back in a big way Sunday evening, using a fast start and 12-hit attack to take down the Holly Springs Salamanders 8-4 on the road. A four-run fourth inning and stellar middle relief helped the ZooKeepers improve to 6-2 on the season, keeping them near the top of the Coastal Plain League standings.

Trading Blows Early

Both teams came out swinging in the first inning. Asheboro scored first when Sal Laimo (Barton College) led off with a single and came around on a bases-loaded walk to catcher Seojun Oh (High Point University). Holly Springs answered in the bottom half, using aggressive baserunning and a ZooKeepers wild pitch to plate two of their own.

After a 2-2 tie through three, the ZooKeepers broke things open in the fourth.

Fourth Inning Breakthrough

Boaz Harper (UNC) started the rally with a leadoff double—his second of the day—and later scored on a Cole Kitchens (Southern Indiana) RBI single. Oh added a two-RBI base knock, and Hunter Atkinson (Catawba College) laced an RBI double to deep right to cap a four-run frame, pushing Asheboro ahead 7-3.

Balanced Lineup Shines

Harper led the offense, finishing 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Oh drove in two and reached base three times, while Rafael Soto (College of Charleston) and Yariel Diaz (Barton College) each collected multi-hit games to keep the ZooKeepers in control.

Bullpen Slams the Door

After starter Connor Darling (Penn) battled through four innings, Nathanael Volk (NC Wesleyan) entered in relief and was lights out, allowing just two hits over three scoreless frames to earn the win. Jeremiah Hampton (Presbyterian) and Matt Goldenbaum (South Florida) handled the final two innings to close it out, with Goldenbaum surrendering a solo homer to Ryan Martin (Georgia Highlands) in the ninth.

Final: ZooKeepers 8, Salamanders 4

The win gives Asheboro its sixth of the year and a bounce-back result after Saturday’s close loss to Martinsville. The ZooKeepers now gear up for a home contest as they look to keep pace in the competitive CPL West.

Next Game:
ZooKeepers vs. Catawaba Stars
Monday, June 9 — 6:30 PM at McCrary Park
Listen live: https://zkbaseball.mixlr.com