EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Gorneault's Walk-Off Single Gives Fisher Cats 2-1 Win Over Akron

Published on June 18, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


Manchester, NH- Nick Gorneault capped a 3-for-4 night by delivering a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Brian Dopirak and lifting the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Akron Aeros on Thursday night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.

Dopirak (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 R) led off the ninth by lining his Eastern League-leading 21st double to left off losing pitcher Neil Wagner. A passed ball advanced Dopirak to third, and he jogged home with the winning run on Gorneault's single up the middle, as New Hampshire (29-38) snapped a five-game skid and ended Akron's five-game winning streak.

Danny Farquhar (1-2) pitched two hitless innings of relief to notch his first career Double-A victory. He struck out two and walked one.

Wagner (0-1) absorbed the loss after yielding one run on two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings.

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, the Fisher Cats tied the game when Dopirak tagged Akron starter Ryan Edell's offering over the right-centerfield wall for his EL-leading 15th home run.

Following a 30-minute rain delay at the outset, the Aeros (43-22) wasted no time in taking a 1-0 lead. Jose Constanza (2-for-3, 2B, BB, R) led off the game with double to deep left off Marc Rzepczynski and scored when Nick Weglarz (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) grounded a double down the leftfield line.

That's all Akron could muster against Rzepczynski, who allowed a run on five hits in seven innings, fanning eight, walking one and hitting a batter. The left-hander retired the final seven hitters he faced, increasing his Eastern League-leading strikeout total to 87 and moving into second place in the league in innings pitched (76.2).

The Fisher Cats open a three-game weekend series against the Erie SeaWolves, Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, on Friday night at 7:05pm at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. Right-hander Marty McLeary (0-0, 0.00) makes his season debut for New Hampshire against Erie left-hander Jon Kibler (3-4, 4.26). Radio coverage begins at 6:45pm with the BayRing Pre-Game Show on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Mike Murphy and Bob Lipman.

The first 1,000 kids through the gates on Friday night will receive a free Fisher Cats Pencil Pouch, courtesy of Valvoline Instant Oil Change, on Scout Sleepover Night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from June 18, 2009


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