Drive Top 'Dads in Labor Day Matinee
Published on September 5, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - The 1st-Half Northern Division Champion Hickory Crawdads fell in the regular season finale, 10-5, against the Greenville Drive, before 760 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium. The first pitch was delayed by 29 minutes due to inclement weather.
The Drive (78-62, 40-30) struck first in the opening inning against RHP Nick Tepesch (L, 7-5). After back-to-back singles by CF Felix Sanchez and LF Matty Johnson started the game, 2B Sean Coyle knocked an RBI single for the 1-0 lead. DH Drew Hedman skied a sacrifice fly to left field, doubling the Drive advantage, 2-0.
Greenville tacked on three runs in the top of the third. With two on and one out, Coyle belted a three-run homer over the left field wall for the 5-0 lead.
Hickory (79-58, 39-30) got on the board in the bottom of the third against RHP Miguel Celestino (W, 10-6). With two away, DH Tomas Telis doubled to keep the frame going, and 3B Christian Villanueva drove him in with an RBI single, making it 5-1.
The Drive, though, responded with five runs in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, CF Felix Sanchez singled in a pair to stretch the lead to 7-1. Coyle then struck with another three-run home run, putting the Drive ahead, 10-1.
The Crawdads pulled one run closer in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single from 1B Jhonny Gomez, but Greenville answered with a solo homer by 3B David Renfroe in the top of the fifth, making it 11-2.
Hickory kept chipping away with an RBI double by RF Josh Richmond in the bottom of the fifth and another RBI base hit from Villanueva in the ninth, but ran out of time, as the Drive took the 11-4 win. RHP Tyler Wilson (S, 2) logged four scoreless relief innings to earn the save for Greenville.
Crawdads Clippings:
The Crawdads will start the 2011 SAL Playoffs with the opening game of the Northern Division Championship Series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers on the road this Wednesday. Catch all of the action live on The Big Dawg 92.1FM and Hickorycrawdads.com!
Hickory will host Game 2 of the NDCS at L.P. Frans Stadium this Friday night at 7 p.m.! Don't miss all the exciting action of playoff baseball, followed by a fantastic fireworks show, presented by Vesco, Pepsi, Galaxy Foods Centers, Hickory Orthopaedic Center, Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and JP Computer Consulting. Gates open on Friday at 6 p.m., seats are going fast!
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 September 5, 2011
- Gnats Swept Monday; Will Face Augusta in Playoffs - Savannah Sand Gnats
- 'Dogs Ride Brown and Gerritse to Shutout Win in Season Finale - Charleston RiverDogs
- Legends Take Two from Savannah on Final Day - Lexington Legends
- GreenJackets Win Second-Half Division Crown - Augusta GreenJackets
- Grasshoppers Are Playoff Bound - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Shorebirds Fall 5-4 in 11-Innings in Season Finale - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Drive Top 'Dads in Labor Day Matinee - Hickory Crawdads
- Lakewood Falls 9-1 in Season Finale - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Intimidators Fall One Win Shy of Playoffs - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Rogers Strong for GreenJackets in Finale Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Cruise to 11-4 Victory in Regular Season Finale - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Game Notes: Monday, September 5 at Lexington - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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