Crawdads Swat Sand Gnats with 7-1 Win
Published on April 19, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - The Hickory Crawdads crushed three triples to pace the 7-1 victory against the Savannah Sand Gnats, before 2,678 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium on Thursday night in Savannah.
The Crawdads (9-5) struck first in the first against LHP Alex Ponteliodis (L, 2-1). With one away, 3B Hanser Alberto belted a triple to right-center field and scored on an overthrow from 2B TJ Rivera on the play, making it 1-0 right away.
Hickory added to the lead in the top of the second after LF Chris Grayson ripped the team's second triple into the right field corner. One out later, Grayson charged home on an RBI sacrifice fly from DH Jeremy Williams to stretch the lead to 2-0.
The Crawdads kept swinging away, adding two more tallies in the top of the fourth. With one out, RF Zach Cone singled, Grayson walked and CF Jordan Akins singled to load the bases. After a strikeout, C Kevin Torres bounced a grounder to the right side of the infield. 1B Brian Harrison made a diving stop on the play, but then misfired a throw to the covering Ponteliodis at first, enabling Cone and Grayson to score for the 4-0 lead.
After three scoreless innings, the Sand Gnats mustered their only run of the game against RHP Jerad Eickhoff (W, 2-1) in the bottom of the fourth. Harrison led off with a single and advanced to second on a balk. After a grounder to third moved Harrison to third base, he then came home on an RBI fielder's choice hit into by DH Charley Thurber, chipping the 'Dads lead to 4-1.
Hickory came right back with a run in the top of the fifth against RHP Tyson Seng. Alberto started the inning with a bunt single and raced around to third on a single from 2B Rougned Odor. Seng then unleashed a wild pitch, allowing Alberto to score and giving the 'Dads the 5-1 lead.
The Crawdads put the finishing touches on the offensive output in the top of the sixth inning. Torres singled to start things and moved to third on consecutive ground outs to second base. Alberto ripped a two-out RBI single to left field, and the darted all the way home on an RBI triple from Odor, capping the scoring at 7-1.
RHP Santo Perez (S, 1) took over on the mound to start the bottom of the sixth inning and slammed the door with four scoreless, hitless frames, closing the 7-1 win for the Crawdads.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 19, 2012
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- Early 7-Run Lead Not Enough in Walk-Off Loss - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Skole Blasts Walk-Off Homer, Suns Beat Lakewood 11-9 - Hagerstown Suns
- Crawdads Swat Sand Gnats with 7-1 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Hot Hitting Continues as T's Return Home; Win 10-6 Over Braves - Asheville Tourists
- Crawdads Triples' Trip Gnats 7-1 - Savannah Sand Gnats
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