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SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Cruise Past Crawdads, 9-2

August 31, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Hickory, NC - The Greenville Drive (70-68, 30-38) used a dash of quality pitching, mixed in with some clutch hitting to defeat the Hickory Crawdads (51-87, 21-87) 9-2 Sunday evening, guaranteeing an overall winning record for the first time in the franchise's three-year history.

Tied 1-1 heading into the fifth, the Drive pulled away by scoring in three of the game's final four innings. Only one hit was needed in the top of the fifth for Greenville to score two runs off Rafael De Los Santos (3-10). Carlos Fernandez led off the inning with a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch, while Oscar Tejeda singled and scored on Michael Almanzar's groundout.

An inning later the Drive added another run as Thomas DiBenedetto, who finished 2-for-4 and was Greenville's only batter to tally multiple hits, led off with a single and scored four batters later on Rafael Cabreja's RBI-single.

David Mailman extended the Drive's lead to five runs in the seventh, belting a Francisco Ortiz offering for a three-run homer, his eighth of the season. Two innings later Carlos Fernandez capped Greenville's night with a two-run, two-out single.

On the mound, the Drive used three pitchers to limit the Crawdads to two runs, only one of which was earned, on seven hits. Brock Huntzinger (2-3) allowed both runs on five hits and a walk, while fanning one over 5.0 innings.

Lance McClain and Ryne Miller combined to hold Hickory scorless over the final four innings. McClain surrendered two singles and a walk in 3.0 innings, while Miller added a perfect ninth, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

The Drive and Crawdads will closeout the 2008 regular season on Monday with a first pitch time of 1:00 PM. Southpaw Jose Alvarez will toe the rubber for Greenville in the finale as Hickory counters with right-hander Duke Welker.

For more information regarding 2009 Greenville Drive ticket plans, group outings and luxury accommodations, visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com or call (864) 240-4500.

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