SAL1 Hickory Crawdads

'Dads Power Past 'Gnats in 10-1 Win

Published on July 31, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release


Savannah, GA - The Hickory Crawdads offense made sure the team's road trip got off on the right foot Thursday night, as the 'Dads kick started their 7-game road stretch with a 10-1 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats at Historic Grayson Stadium.

Hickory second baseman Travis Demeritte provided the pop, as the 19-year-old prospect went 3-5 with two home runs, five RBI, and three runs scored to pace the 'Dads bats. Demeritte now leads the South Atlantic League with 23 homers on the season, four ahead of teammate Nomar Mazara (19). All the offense also gave plenty of support to Crawdads pitchers Tyler Smith and Ryne Slack, who held the Sand Gnats to just one run on four hits while striking out 10 total batters.

Hickory jumped out to an early lead off of 'Gnats starting pitcher Logan Taylor, scoring two runs in the 1st and another in the 2nd for a 3-0 advantage. Zach Cone and Jairo Beras plated the two 1st inning tallies with a RBI double and RBI single respectively, before Demeritte went deep for the first time with a solo blast into the trees beyond the left field fence to lead off the 2nd.

Savannah got on the board in the home half of the third when Champ Stuart lined a RBI single off of Smith to cut the score to 3-1. The 'Dads quickly answered the run with another of their own in the top of the 5th to push their lead back up to three runs at 4-1. Michael De Leon reached on a one out single to center before Taylor walked the next three Crawdads batters, including a bases loaded, RBI walk to Kellin Deglan, to force in a run.

The score would remain the same until the 8th, when the Crawdads sent all nine batters to the plate while scoring three runs on three hits and three Sand Gnats errors for a 7-1 advantage. Demeritte and De Leon each came through with RBI singles in the frame, while Luis Marte also brought in a run with a RBI groundout.

The 'Dads wrapped up the scoring with three more runs in the 9th for the final 10-1 score. All three runs came home on one swing of the bat, when Demeritte connected on home run number two in the form of a 3-run blast to left.

Smith (5-3) earned the win for Hickory with one of his best outings of the year, holding Savannah to one run on three hits, two walks, and six strikeouts over six innings pitched. Taylor (0-3) took the loss after giving up four runs on five hits, three walks, and five strikeouts during his six innings on the mound. Slack picked up his fifth save of the year with three scoreless frames with four strikeouts to close out the win for the 'Dads.

The Crawdads (24-16) and Sand Gnats (23-16) will match up again Friday night at 7:05 pm for game two of the four game series.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 31, 2014


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