Hawks outlast Rattlers in a marathon

Published on August 4, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


FOX CITIES STADIUM -- The South Bend Silver Hawks prevailed 10-8 in eleven innings over the Wisconsin Timber Rattler Thursday night. The back-and-forth game, which featured wild momentum swings, finally went to the Silver Hawks after they scored twice in the top of the eleventh inning. Mike Wilson homered twice for the Rattlers. Cesar Nicolas homered once, doubled twice, and scored three times for the Hawks.

Wisconsin (62-49 overall, 23-18 second half) jumped in front on long opposite field home run to right by Wilson. The two-run shot came with two outs. An error allowed another run to score in the inning and the Rattlers led 3-0.

South Bend (64-47, 23-18) got a run in the top of the second inning on Nicolas' seventeenth home run of the season. The long line drive to left started the Hawk second. Agustin Murillo drilled a home run to center with one out in the third and South Bend trailed 3-2.

Marshall Hubbard started the Rattler third with a double and scored on an RBI single by Matt Tuiasosopo for a 4-2 Wisconsin advantage.

South Bend took the lead in the top of the fourth inning a three run rally with two outs. Emilio Bonifacio and Alberto Gonzalez had back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game. A wild pitch by Rattler starter Mark Lowe scored the go-ahead run.

Mark Reynolds homered to start the South Bend half of the fifth inning to make it 6-4.

Oswaldo Navarro drove in a run for Wisconsin in with a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth and got the Rattlers to within a run at 6-5.

The Rattlers tied the game on an odd play in the bottom of the sixth. South Bend reliever Josh Perrault walked a pair of batters with two outs. Jeff Clement stepped to the plate and sent a ground ball that went through the legs of base umpire Grant Menke and the legs of shortstop Alberto Gonzalez and the tying run scored.

But, Gonzalez got a little redemption in the top of the eighth. Bonifacio doubled with two outs. Gonzalez worked the count to 2-2 and grounded an RBI single back through the middle and South Bend led 7-6.

That lead lasted less than five minutes. Wilson was at bat with one out and facing an 0-1 pitch from Josh Perrault. The Rattler rightfielder hammered the pitch deep into the night for his second homer of the game and the game was tied 7-7.

But, Nicolas struck again in the top of the ninth. He doubled to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Wilkin Castillo moved Nicolas to third and a sacrifice fly by Reynolds put Nicolas across home for an 8-7 South Bend lead.

It looked like that would be enough. Esmerling Vasquez, who got the final out of the eighth, easily retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth. But, pinch hitter Josh Womack singled to keep the inning going. Navarro singled and put runners at first and second. Chris Colton worked the count to 3-2 before he lined a single to right and Womack raced home with the tying run.

The Silver Hawks got a leadoff double in the tenth, but Eric O'Flaherty came out of the bullpen and stranded the lead run at third.

In the bottom of the tenth, Vasquez walked three and left with the bases loaded and two outs. Silver Hawk closer Matt Elliott went to a full count on Womack before striking him out and sending the game to the eleventh.

Nicolas drew a leadoff walk. Castillo squared for another sacrifice bunt, but pulled back and lined a run scoring double down the third base line for a 9-8 South Bend lead. An infield grounder moved Castillo to third and a wild pitch allowed him to score and the Hawks had a two run lead.

Elliott put an end to the game with a 1-2-3 bottom of the eleventh.

The final game of the four game series is Friday night. Aaron Jensen (7-10, 5.06ERA) will be the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Silver Hawks will counter with Koley Kolberg (4-6, 3.75ERA). Game time is 7:05pm.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from August 4, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central