'Dads Outshine Suns, 14-13, in 10 Innings
Published on August 1, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - 3B Christian Villanueva drove the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th, lifting the 1st-Half Northern Division Champion Hickory Crawdads to the 14-13 victory in extra innings against the Hagerstown Suns, before 1,001 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Hagerstown (58-48, 18-18) took the lead right away with two runs in the top of the first against RHP Nick Tepesch. 3B Blake Kelso led off with a single and quickly stole second base. CF Chris Curran knocked in Kelso with an RBI single, and then stole second himself. After Curran moved to third on a fly out to center, DH Kevin Keyes drove an RBI base hit to plate Curran and make it 2-0.
The Crawdads (63-42, 23-14) quickly cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first, facing LHP Matt Grace. With two down and the bases empty, 3B Christian Villanueva kept the inning going with a single. He then raced all the way in on an RBI base hit by 1B Andrew Clark, cutting the Suns lead to 2-1.
Hagerstown stretched the lead back out with three combined runs in the third and fourth frames. SS Jason Martinson plated the run in the third with a sacrifice fly, before RF Michael Taylor belted a two-run bomb in the fourth, giving the Suns the 5-1 advantage.
Hickory came racing back into the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. CF Braxton Lane started the charge by reaching on an error, and was followed by four straight singles. SS Jurickson Profar moved Lane to third with a base hit, before 2B Odubel Herrera struck with an RBI single to plate Lane and keep two runners on. Villanueva and Clark struck back-to-back RBI singles, and RF Josh Richmond capped the rally with the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly to even it at 5-5.
The Suns answered with four runs of their own in the top of the sixth against RHP Andrew Doyle and RHP Colby Killian. After two walks to start the stanza, Taylor cracked another home run, a three-run shot over the left-field wall. Kelso and Curran both worked walks, leading to Killian taking over on the mound for the 'Dads. A fielder's choice and a free pass loaded the bases with one away. Martinson bounced into another RBI fielder's choice, driving Kelso in from third and putting the Suns ahead, 9-5.
The Crawdads refused to stay down for long, striking with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. LF Alejandro Selen led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out. After Lane was hit by a pitch, RHP Greg Holt attempted a pick off to first, but threw the ball away, enabling Selen to charge home. Profar then worked a walk and Herrera singled to load the bases. Villanueva followed with an RBI walk, forcing in Lane to make it 9-7. One out later, Richmond knocked a two-run single, scoring Profar and Herrera, while advancing Villanueva to second. The two runners then successfully attempted a double steal, which drew an errant throw from C Adrian Nieto past third base, allowing Villanueva to pop up and score the go-ahead run, 10-9.
Hagerstown again had an answer, striking for three runs in the top of the seventh to move back in front, 12-10. After Hagerstown plated an additional insurance run in the top of the ninth, Selen came through with a game-tying, three-run bomb with one out in the bottom of the ninth, once again tying the game, 13-13, and forcing extra innings.
LHP Jimmy Reyes (W, 6-0) faced the minimum three batters in the top of the 10th, before Hickory dealt the final blow in the bottom of the inning against RHP Sam Brown (L, 2-5). Profar started the inning with a base hit, and quickly moved to second when Herrera was hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch from Brown advanced both runners ninety feet, Villanueva drove the game-winning sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Profar and lifting Hickoty to the 14-13 win in 10 innings.
Crawdads Clippings:
The Crawdads host the Suns for Dollar Day on Tuesday! Buy one ticket and get a second grandstand ticket for just a buck! Plus, nine other items at the ballpark will be only $1 each.
Tuesday also features the KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets deal. Just bring a KRAFT Singles wrapper to the Ticket Office for a Buy One, Get One offer from KRAFT.
First Pitch on Tuesday is 7 p.m., with gates opening at 6 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 August 1, 2011
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- 'Dads Outshine Suns, 14-13, in 10 Innings - Hickory Crawdads
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- Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads in First Place Heading into August - Hickory Crawdads
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- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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- Buchanan Promoted to Clearwater - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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