Three-Run Seventh Lifts Devil Dogz Past Zookeepers

Nomaco Park – June 22nd, 2026

ZEBULON, N.C.— The Asheboro Zookeepers showed plenty of fight Monday night at Nomaco Park, but a pair of big innings by the Zebulon Devil Dogz proved to be the difference in an 8-6 loss on the road.

Despite trailing by as many as four runs, Asheboro continued to chip away throughout the night and brought the tying run to the plate in the late innings. The Zookeepers collected 10 hits and recieved contributions throughout the lineup, but Zebulon’s timely offense and a three-run seventh inning ultimately held up as the deciding blow.

After two scoreless innings to begin the game, Asheboro broke through first in the top of the third. Reggie Sharpe singled and later came around to score, giving the Zookeepers an early 1-0 advantage.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Zebulon responded in the bottom of the fourth. A three-run home run from Manny Contreras swung the momentum and put the Devil Dogz in front 3-1.

Asheboro answered immediately in the fifth with its biggest offensive frame of the night. Brady McGuire started the rally and Blake Brookins delivered the biggest hit of the inning, launching a three-run homer to left field. The blast, Brookins’ second of the season, erased the deficit and gave the Zookeepers a 4-3 lead.

The back-and-forth battle continued in the sixth. Zebulon regained control with two runs, highlighted by RBI production from Fuller Musgrove and Matt Holmes, moving back in front 5-4.

The Devil Dogz created separation in the seventh inning. After Asheboro tied the game earlier in the frame, Zebulon responded with three runs of its own, capitalizing on multiple scoring opportunities to build an 8-5 cushion heading into the final innings.

The Zookeepers refused to go quietly. Daniel Stephens doubled and scored during Asheboro’s seventh-inning rally, and the visitors pushed across another run in the ninth to trim the deficit to two. With momentum beginning to shift, Zebulon closer Holden Conner shut the door to secure the victory.

Brookins paced the Asheboro offense with a 1-for-4 night that included a three-run home run and three RBIs. Cameron Austin drove in a run, while Wilmis Castro, Daniel Stephens and Sharpe each contributed offensively. McGuire scored twice and added a double, while Drue Saenz finished with two hits and a pair of doubles.

Asheboro recieved a lengthy outing from Carter Fogal, who worked 5.2 innings and struck out three while keeping the Zookeepers within striking distance throughout much of the night. Caydon Laird followed out of the bullpen and recorded a strikeout in an inning of work, while Braxton Walker and Jared Huse combined to retire the final four Devil Dogz hitters they faced. Huse was particularly effective, striking out both batters he faced to close out the eighth inning.

Zebulon was led offensively by Contreras, who finished with two hits, three RBIs and the go-ahead home run. Musgrove added two hits and two RBIs, while Tyler LeJeune collected three hits atop the lineup.

Although the result did not go Asheboro’s way, the Zookeepers continued to show the offensive depth that has fueled much of their success this season, recording double-digit hits and battling until the final out in a four-hour contest and a rain delay in Zebulon.

The Zookeepers will look to bounce back in their next Coastal Plain League matchup as they continue a busy stretch of games on the raod, starting with the Macon Bacon on Wednesday, June 24.