Clark Hits Two Homers, 'Dads Top 'Hoppers 5-4
Published on July 21, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - 1B Andrew Clark hit two home runs, helping power the Hickory Crawdads, 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, to the 5-4 win against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, before 2,112 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Thursday night.
The Crawdads (58-37, 18-9) got out to a powerful start against RHP Zachary Neal and the Grasshoppers. With one down and no one on, 2B Odubel Herrera hooked a solo home run inside the right field foul pole to crack the scoreless tie right away. One out later, Clark, the SAL Player of the Week, crushed a solo homer of his own, doubling the early lead to 2-0.
RHP Nick Tepesch retired the first seven batters that he faced in order, and kept the Grasshoppers (53-44, 13-14) off the board through his first four innings. Greensboro, though, charged in front with four runs in the top of the fifth. SS Daniel Black sparked the offense with a triple to start the inning. He quickly came home on an RBI single by C Wilfredo Gimenez. After a strikeout from Tepesch, 2B Noah Perio advanced Gimenez to second with a single, before both came home on a three-run shot by RF Marcell Ozuna, lifting the Grasshoppers into the 4-2 lead.
The Crawdads quickly erased the deficit in the bottom of the fifth. DH Tomas Telis started the inning with a double. Clark then struck again, belting his second home run of the game over the right field wall, tying the score at 4-4.
Hickory capitalized on a pair of Greensboro errors with RHP Jordan Conley (L, 1-2) on the mound in the bottom of the seventh to reclaim the lead. Telis drove the ball to left-center to start the inning, and got all the way to second on a missed catch miscue by LF Rand Smith. Clark advanced Telis to third with a ground out, and then 3B Christian Villanueva brought Telis home on an RBI fielder's choice to short. Black fired it home on the play, but Telis slid across safely as the throw also sailed wide of the plate, putting Hickory back in the lead, 5-4.
LHP Jimmy Reyes (W, 4-0) dealt three perfect innings of relief after taking over on the mound in the seventh in the place of Tepesch, who departed with nine strikeouts in his six innings. Reyes struck out four through his final two innings, registering the win and closing the 5-4 victory for the Crawdads.
Crawdads Clippings:
Hickory wraps up the series against Greensboro on Friday with Friday Night Fireworks, presented by Hickory Dickory Dock and WNNC 1230AM! First Pitch is at 7 p.m., gates open at 6 p.m.
Saturday is the annual Christian Concert Game, presented by Chick-Fil-A, 106.9 The Light and Young & Associates, against the Delmarva Shorebirds at 6 p.m. Don't miss the Dove Award winning band, Sidewalk Prophets, performing live after the game! All tickets are just $12 and going fast! Gates open at 5 p.m.
Get Tickets:
Individual tickets, corporate partnerships, group outings and ticket plans for the 2011 season are available right now at the Crawdads Front Office or by calling (828) 322-3000. You can even purchase and print your tickets from the comfort of your home on Hickorycrawdads.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 21, 2011
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- Lakewood Walk off Winners 5-4 Thursday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Endure 5-4 Walk-Off Loss to BlueClaws - Greenville Drive
- Clark Hits Two Homers, 'Dads Top 'Hoppers 5-4 - Hickory Crawdads
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- Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, July 21 Vs. West Virginia - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Brown Promoted from Staten Island; Higashioka Placed on 7-Day DL - Charleston RiverDogs
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