SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Hacker Shines as RiverDogs Gut Catfish, 3-1

Published on July 11, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


Eric Hacker took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Charleston scored two runs in the eighth inning to snap a 1-1 tie as the RiverDogs tripled the Columbus Catfish, 3-1, in South Atlantic League action Wednesday night in front of 2,142 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The start of the game was delayed 1:14 due to rain.

Hacker combined with Jesse Hoover on a three-hitter as the RiverDogs won a fourth consecutive game. Mitch Hilligoss drove in the winning run for the second straight game with a go-ahead triple in the decisive eighth, while Eduardo Nunez collected three hits and two RBI on the night.

With the victory, the RiverDogs improved to 11-8 in the season's second half and 48-41 overall while the Catfish slipped to 11-8 in the second half and 52-37 overall.

Hacker, although not figuring in the decision, pitched six innings of no-hit ball and faced the minimum of 24 batters until the seventh. But leadoff batter Desmond Jennings began the seventh frame for Columbus with a solid single to left field on a 1-1 offering. The Catfish eventually scored their lone run that inning on Nevin Ashley's RBI single through the left side.

For the night, right-hander Hacker pitched seven strong innings and allowed one run on three hits, walked one and fanned six. He was relieved in the eighth frame by Hoover (1-1), who faced the final seven batters and allowed only a base on balls.

The RiverDogs broke open the 1-1 tie in the eighth inning against Columbus reliever Ryan Reid (4-4). Wilmer Pino led off with a single to center and scored on Hilligoss's RBI triple to right-center. Nunez followed Hilligoss's triple with his second RBI of the game, a single to right that knocked Reid from the game.

With two outs in the third, Charleston scored its first run when Hilligoss singled to center and scored when Nunez tripled to right against Catfish starter Ryan Morse.

Morse pitched five strong innings, allowing one run on four hits. Reid entered the contest in the sixth and gave up two runs on three hits while striking out four.

Nunez's three knocks paced the RiverDogs' eight-hit attack while Hilligoss and Pino each accounted for two hits each.

Game two of this three-game block is set for Thursday at 7:05 p.m. with Charleston sending righty Gabe Medina (1-2, 5.53 ERA) to the mound while Columbus is expected to start righty Wade Townsend (5-7, 5.07 ERA).

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 11, 2007


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