SAL1 Hickory Crawdads

Crawdads split doubleheader in Lakewood

Published on August 30, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - The 1st-Half Northern Division Champion Hickory Crawdads split a doubleheader against the Lakewood BlueClaws on Tuesday, winning Game 1, 4-3, in 8 innings but falling in Game 2, 3-2, before 9,044 fans at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood.

Game 1:

The Crawdads (78-53, 38-25) took an early lead right away with an RBI single by RF Josh Richmond in the first inning, but Lakewood came back with three runs (two earned) against RHP Nick Tepesch (W, 7-4) in the bottom of the second. An RBI single by SS Carlos Perdomo and two Hickory errors accounted for the 3-1 Lakewood lead. Tepesch, however, did not allow another hit or run throughout the remainder of his seven-inning start.

Hickory tallied twice in the top of the fifth inning to tie the score. C Kellin Deglan and DH Braxton Lane both worked walks, putting two on with only one out in the frame. South Atlantic League MVP SS Jurickson Profar promptly brought both runners in with a two-run double to left-center field, squaring the score at 3-3.

The Crawdads took advantage of an extra-innings error by the BlueClaws (66-65, 33-30) to retake the lead in the top of the eighth. 3B Christian Villanueva led off with a bunt single against RHP Ebelin Lugo (L, 0-2) to start the stanza. Villanueva stole his way to scoring position, then raced home when a LF Jonathan Roof infield single led to the miscue. Roof bounced the infield hit right behind the mound, drawing SS Carlos Perdomo in to try to field the grounder. Perdomo, however, kicked the ball away, enabling Villanueva to score for the 4-3 lead.

RHP Francisco Mendoza (S, 8) slammed the door with a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, wrapping up the 4-3 win for Hickory.

Click here for the complete box score.

Game 2:

For the first time all series, Lakewood (67-65, 34-30) struck first in the top of the third inning. LF Bill Rice led off with a single against RHP Joe Van Meter, and moved to second on a 2B Carlos Alonso base hit one out later.

The BlueClaws added an insurance run against RHP Jose Monegro in the bottom of the sixth inning. RF Anthony Hewitt started the stanza with a double, moving to third next on a sacrifice bunt. Hewitt charged in the final ninety feet on a fielder's choice by 3B Drew Hillman, beating the throw home by Monegro on the play to make it 2-0.

The Crawdads (78-54, 38-26) came racing back in the top of the seventh, the final regulation inning in the doubleheader game. With one down, 2B Alejandro Selen singled his way on. RF Josh Richmond followed with a walk, before LF Jonathan Roof belted a two-run double to left field, tying the game, 2-2, and forcing the bottom of the seventh inning.

Lakewood, though, took advantage of a Crawdads miscue in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with the win and avoid the sweep. LF Bill Rice led off with a single against RHP Andrew Doyle (L, 1-2). DH Zach Collier advanced Rice to second with a sacrifice bunt, bringing up 2B Carlos Alonso. The Crawdads elected to intentionally walk Alonso, choosing instead to deal to 1B Jim Murphy. Two pitches into the at-bat, Murphy injured his hand and was replaced by pinch hitter C Cameron Rupp. Doyle induced a grounder up the middle by Rupp. Selen cut off the grounder and stepped on second, before firing to first base to attempt what would have been an inning-ending double play. However, Selen's throw bounced away from 1B Jhonny Gomez, enabling Rice to race around third and score the game-winning run in the 3-2 victory for the BlueClaws.

Check out the Hickory Crawdads Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 30, 2011


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