Crawdads Clinch Northern Division Title

June 16, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release

Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads came away with more than just a single win Monday night, as the 'Dads 4-1 victory over the Savannah Sand Gnats combined with a loss from the second place West Virginia Power gave the club the 1st Half Northern Division Championship and the accompanying playoff birth.

The Northern Division title marks the first time the Crawdads have reached the South Atlantic League post-season since 2011. The 'Dads won the clinching game using a very familiar formula, including great pitching, timely offense, and solid defense to lead to the club's 41st win of the year.

Hickory fell behind early in the game, as Savannah scrapped across a run on a double, a balk, and an RBI groundout against Crawdads starting pitcher Luis Ortiz in the 2nd for a 1-0 score. The 'Dads responded in the bottom of the 3rd, when Josh Morgan lined a 2-out double to left before Eduard Pinto roped a 2-run home run to right for a 2-1 Hickory lead.

The Crawdads used the same blueprint to expand their advantage in the home half of the 3rd, as Jairo Beras hit a 2-out single to right before Rock Shoulders lined an opposite filed, 2-run homer to left for a 4-1 'Dads lead. That would be all the club would need, as Ortiz, Joe Filomeno, Austin Pettibone, and John Fasola held the Sand Gnats to one run on five hits en route to the victory.

Ortiz (4-1) earned the win for the Crawdads, as the right-hander struck out a career-high 9 batters while allowing just one run on three hits over five innings pitched. Savannah starter Casey Meisner (3-2) took the loss after allowing all four Hickory runs on five hits over 6.2 IP. Fasola earned his league-leading 13th save of the year after setting down the 'Gnats in order with two Ks in the 9th.

Pinto (1-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Shoulders (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) led the 'Dads offensive attack, while Morgan finished the night 1-3 with a double, a run scored, and a walk.

The Crawdads (41-21) will now head on the road for six games to wrap up the first half of the season. The 'Dads will begin their road trip Tuesday night in Rome, with a 7:00 pm first pitch against the Braves.

South Atlantic League Stories from June 16, 2015

• Shorebirds Sweep Doubleheader in Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
• GreenJackets Bats Go Cold on a Hot Night at The Lake - Augusta GreenJackets
• Late Surge from Gnats Enough to Best Tourists - Asheville Tourists
• Suns blind Intimidators to win game one - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• RiverDogs Rally, Power Surge to 5-4 10-Inning Victory - Charleston RiverDogs
• Gnats Bats Get Going Late in 6-2 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Power Fends off Charleston in 10 - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Legends Win Series Opener in Augusta, 4-2; O'Hearn Hits 15th HR - Lexington Legends
• Hickory Tops Braves in Ten Innings 7-6 - Rome Emperors
• Shorebirds Sweep Double-Header from BlueClaws on Tuesday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Grasshoppers Rout Drive, 12-4 - Greenville Drive
• WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Former O's Prospect Delmonico to Kannapolis - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Hoppers Back Home, Look for Strong Finish to First Half - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• Crawdads Clinch Northern Division Title - Hickory Crawdads

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