ZooKeepers’ Six-Run First Not Enough in Walk-Off Loss to Mustangs

Hooker Field – June 27, 2025

A six-run first inning wasn’t enough for the Asheboro ZooKeepers on Friday night, as the Martinsville Mustangs stormed back with five runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun Asheboro 7–6 in front of 929 fans at Hooker Field.

Zookeepers Erupt Early but Go Silent

The ZooKeepers came out swinging, putting up six runs on seven hits in the top of the first inning. Kruise Newman, Jake Griffith, and Boaz Harper all recorded RBIs during the early onslaught. Asheboro tagged Mustangs starter Simon Linde for all six runs in just 0.2 innings, forcing an early call to the bullpen.

But that would be all the ZooKeepers could muster offensively. The Mustangs’ bullpen trio of Maxey, Cline, and Barnes shut down Asheboro the rest of the way, combining for 8.1 scoreless innings while allowing just five hits and two walks.

Mustangs Rally in the Ninth

Asheboro starter Reilly Byers turned in a solid outing, giving up just two runs on two hits across six innings. Nathanael Volk followed with a scoreless seventh, and the ZooKeepers carried a 6–2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

But the Mustangs wouldn’t go away quietly. A combination of three walks, two hits, and a hit-by-pitch off relievers Caleb Cockerham and Matt Goldenbaum allowed Martinsville to load the bases. Josh Pokorak’s solo home run earlier in the game foreshadowed the chaos to come, and the Mustangs walked it off without recording an out in the final frame.

Final: Mustangs 7, ZooKeepers 6

Asheboro outhit Martinsville 12–7 and turned three double plays on defense, but the early fireworks fizzled after the first inning. Sam Hunter led the way with a 3-for-5 night, while Newman, Kitchens, and Griffith each tallied extra-base hits.

The loss drops the ZooKeepers to 13–9 on the season and marks their second straight defeat to the Mustangs in as many nights.

Next Game:

Asheboro ZooKeepers vs Martinsville Mustangs
Saturday, June 28 – 6:30 PM at McCray ParkListen live: https://zkbaseball.mixlr.com