SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Hoppers Build Early Lead, Beat Crawdads 12-6

Published on April 25, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Greensboro Grasshoppers continued their hitting spree in First Horizon Park with a 12-6 win over the Hickory Crawdads Wednesday night.

The Hoppers won their fourth game out of five in this home stand, during which they have scored 53 runs. They hit two more home runs to increase their total to 13 during the stand.

"Nobody wants to be left out," Greensboro hitting coach Anthony Iapoce said of the contagious hitting. "They compete as hitters for nine innings and they compete against each other. They just like to hit."

Greg Burns led the way with a single, double and triple and drove in two runs. He is now 11-for-19 (.579) with eight RBIs during the home stand.

Jacob Blackwood drove in three runs with a two-run homer and a single. That raised his average to .229, which is deceptive. Iapoce said Blackwood led the team in hard-hit balls the first three weeks of the season but had little to show for it.

"I think it was a little bit of bad luck, a little bit pitch selection and a little bit trying too hard for hits," Blackwood said. "You don't want to be in a slump and when you're in one, you swing harder to try and get out of it. I finally relaxed and let it happen and concentrated on getting good pitches to hit."

Greensboro scored early and often, building leads of 7-0 and 10-1. Blackwood's two-run homer in the first got things started and the Hoppers added five more runs in the third. Logan Morrison's two-run homer, his fourth, was the big blow.

Chris Coghlan's two-run double was the key hit in a three-run fourth inning. Coghlan now has 18 RBIs on 18 base hits. Burns doubled in the last two runs in the fifth.

Derell McCall (2-1) picked up the win with five innings of work. He allowed three runs, two unearned, and worked himself out of several jams. Two double plays helped his cause. The Hoppers turned a third double play in the seventh inning.

The Hoppers survived a shaky night in the field, committing four errors that led to four unearned runs.

Jonel Pacheco hit his third home run of the season for the Crawdads (7-10), who lost their sixth straight game. Hickory banged out 11 hits, with everyone in the starting lineup hitting safely, but stranded 10 runners.

Brad Clapp (2-2) took the loss, allowing 10 runs, eight earned, in four innings.

The teams play again Thursday at 7 p.m. in First Horizon.

Check out the Greensboro Grasshoppers Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 25, 2007


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