SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Defeated by Intimidators on Thursday

Published on April 19, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Kannapolis, NC - A new locale couldn't end the Greenville Drive's woes on Thursday night, as the Kannapolis Intimidators used a pair of big innings to defeat the Drive 8-3 in the first meeting between the teams since last year's South Atlantic League Championship Series.

The contest was action-packed right from the get-go, as the Drive (3-11) plated all of their runs in the top of the first inning. Cole Brannen hit a one-out single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came home on a double to left by the hot-hitting Michael Osinski. After Pedro Castellanos singled Osinski to third, Marino Campana followed with a double to right to score both runners and make the score 3-0.

Unfortunately for the Drive, that lead wouldn't hold, as the Intimidators (8-6) roared back with five runs in the bottom half thanks to a pair of Drive errors. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Craig Dedelow grounded a two-run single to center off Hunter Haworth (0-2). Following a misplay of Tate Blackman's grounder that tied the game at three, Laz Rivera lashed a two-run double to left to put Kannapolis ahead.

The Intimidators put three more runs on the board in the third for good measure. After back-to-back singles by Evan Skoug and Blackman with one out, Rivera singled home a run to make the score 6-3, and Tyler Frost followed with a two-run triple to right field.

The score remained 8-3 the rest of the way with some solid pitching from the third inning on. John Parke (2-0) got the win for Kannapolis. The Greenville High product allowed two earned runs over five innings with five strikeouts.

Haworth struck out six over five innings for the Drive. Brendan Nail followed with two scoreless innings of relief, and Juan Florentino hurled a perfect eighth.

Osinski went 3-5 to pace the Drive offense. Brannen and Frankie Rios collected two hits apiece, and Campana drove home two.

Rivera notched three hits and three RBI to lead the way for Kannapolis, while Dedelow added two hits of his own.

The series continues on Friday night in Kannapolis at 7:05. Right-hander Nick Duron (0-2, 7.88) takes the mound for the Drive, and the Intimidators will send left-hander Parker Rigler (0-0, 1.93) to the hill.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 19, 2018


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