Hawks Late Rally Falls Short

April 7, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release

Fort Wayne, IN - A ninth inning rally came up one short on Thursday night as the South Bend Silver Hawks dropped the 2011 season opener by a 2-1 final score at Parkview Field against the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

The Silver Hawks were held without a base runner until two outs in the seventh inning, and without a run until the top of the ninth. After Raul Navarro doubled, Mike Freeman and Zach Walters had back-to-back singles to cut into the deficit at 2-1. However, Adam Dominick struck out the next two hitters with the tying run at third to end the ballgame and send the Silver Hawks to an Opening Day loss for the fifth straight year.

Keyvius Sampson (WP, 1-0) dominated from the outset for Fort Wayne, striking out 10 batters through six perfect innings on the mound. It wasn't until the TinCaps went to the bullpen that South Bend was able to get a runner on base.

David Holmberg (LP, 0-1) pitched well in the starting role for South Bend, allowing just two runs over 6.0 innings, but suffered the tough defeat. The 19-year-old lefthander struck out four and walked just one in his Midwest League debut.

Tommy Medica stole the offensive highlights for the TinCaps, accounting for both of their runs on the night. Medica had a RBI single in the second and then led off the fourth with a double, ultimately scoring the deciding run in the contest.

Walters broke up the perfect game bid with a two-out single in the seventh. He finished the night 2-for-4 with two singles.

The Silver Hawks and TinCaps continue the first series of the year with game two on Friday evening at 7:05 PM Eastern Time. RHP Tyler Green (0-0, 0.00 ERA) starts for South Bend against RHP Zach Cates (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for the TinCaps. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 PM Eastern Time on www.silverhawks.com and www.sportsjuice.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 7, 2011

• Kernels And Chiefs Suspended - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Defeat Kane County In 2011 Opener - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Rain Suspends Chiefs Opener After Eight Innings - Peoria Chiefs
• Defending Champs Spoil Loons Season Opener - Great Lakes Loons
• Cougars Fall in 2011 Season Opener - Kane County Cougars
• LumberKings, Bees Suspended By Rain In The 4th Inning - Clinton LumberKings
• Dragons Fall 4-0 on Opening Night - Dayton Dragons
• Sampson Perfect As TinCaps Win Opener, 2-1 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Hawks Late Rally Falls Short - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Bees and LumberKings Suspended - Burlington Bees
• Unplayable Field Conditions Postpone Whitecaps' Opener - West Michigan Whitecaps
• River Bandits Washed out on Opening Day - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Unavoidable Conditions Cause Lugs/Caps Twinbill - Lansing Lugnuts
• Dragons Gameday for April 7 - Dayton Dragons
• Nolin, Walden Head Out - Lansing Lugnuts
• Whitecaps to Offer Kosher Hot Dog Cart in 2011 - West Michigan Whitecaps

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