Hawks Rally in Ninth to Beat West Michigan

Published on July 2, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


South Bend, IN - The Silver Hawks rebounded from one of their worst performances of the season with a heart-stopping 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps Thursday night. West Michigan took a 4-3 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth, but some clutch hitting from Alfredo Marte and Victor Estevez gave the Silver Hawks the walk off win.

With the bases loaded and one out in a 4-4 tie, Estevez laced a single just past Tyler Conn's glove and into centerfield, scoring Jake Elmore for the second walk off win for South Bend this season.

Down by one heading into the final at-bat, Marte immediately tied the game with a majestic home run to left against Conn (LP, 3-2). After a groundout by Nelson Gomez, Chris Davis took a 3-2 pitch into right field for a one out single. Conn balked Davis to second, where Elmore entered as a pinch runner. Isaias Asencio walked and a wild pitch moved up both runners. An intentional walk to Reynaldo Navarro loaded the bases, setting the stage for the dramatic hit by Estevez.

The Silver Hawks needed two in the ninth to win after allowing one to the Whitecaps in the top of the inning. Bayron Zepeda (ND) allowed a leadoff double to Gustavo Nunez, balked him to third, and Bryan Pounds brought him home with a double against T.J. Hose (WP, 2-2) for the 4-3 lead.

The Silver Hawks began the scoring with a run in the bottom of the third against West Michigan starter Mark Sorensen (ND). Asencio singled with one away to get the rally started. Two batters later, Estevez reached on a catcher's interference, advancing Asencio to second. A.J. Pollock then came through with a two-out RBI single to left to score Asencio.

The Whitecaps immediately responded with a run of their own in the top of the fourth and two more in the fifth. Joe Bowen had a RBI single in the fourth with Billy Nowlin and Jordan Lennerton driving in runs with singles in the fifth inning against Wade Miley (ND).

South Bend chipped away, scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI groundout by Estevez, and then getting a RBI double from Asencio to tie the game at three in the seventh inning.

Asencio was 3-for-3 for South Bend, scoring twice and driving in a run as well. Bryan Woodall (ND) pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in long relief.

The four game series concludes with game four Friday at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on another fireworks night at Coveleski Stadium. RHP Ryan Cook (5-6, 4.29 ERA) gets the starting nod for South Bend, with West Michigan sending RHP Luke Putkonen (4-4, 4.31 ERA) to the bump. Pregame coverage begins at 7:10 PM on 1620 ESPN Radio and online at www.silverhawks.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 2, 2009


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