Intimidators Edge 'Dads, 5-4, in 10 Frames Before 3,993 Fans
Published on August 12, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - The Kannapolis Intimidators edged the 1st-Half Northern Division Champion Hickory Crawdads, 5-4, in 10 innings before 3,993 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Friday night.
The Intimidators (65-49, 28-18) got out to an early lead in the top of the first against RHP Nick Tepesch. With runners at the corners and one away, 1B Dan Black drove a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring RF Keenyn Walker for the 1-0 lead.
Hickory (66-49, 26-21) responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the second against LHP Brad Furnish. 1B Andrew Clark led off the inning with a double off the top of the right field wall, before 3B Christian Villanueva belted a two-run bomb over the left field fence, leap-frogging the Crawdads into the 2-1 lead.
Kannapolis tied it in the top of the fourth inning, as 3B Rangel Ravelo placed an RBI single that brought in DH Ross Wilson from second base. However, Tepesch dug in after that, retiring the final 10 batters he faced in a row throughut the remainder of his 6.2-inning start, striking out a total of seven.
The Crawdads moved back in front, 3-2, in the fifth frame on their second homer of the game. LF Alejandro Selen struck right away in the inning with a lead off solo shot, before Furnish retired the next three 'Dads all on strikeouts.
Tepesch gave way to LHP Kevin Johnson for the final out in the seventh, and then RHP Francisco Mendoza took the hill for the top of the eighth inning. After consecutive strikeouts to begin the stanza, Black extended the inning with a base hit and CF Trayce Thompson followed with a two-run home run, lifting the Intimidators in front, 4-3.
The 'Dads refused to go down quietly, rallying for a bottom of the ninth comeback against RHP Chris Bassitt (W, 2-0). 2B Odubel Herrera and DH Tomas Telis sparked the charge with back-to-back singles to begin the inning. One out later, Villanueva grounded an RBI single through the left side of the infield, plating Herrera from second base and forcing extra innings in the 4-4 tie.
However, Kannapolis moved right back in front in the top of the 10th against RHP Jorge Marban (L, 1-5). Walker worked a lead off walk and quickly took second on a sacrifice bunt from 2B Carlos Sanchez. Marban struck out SS Marcus Semien for the inning's second out, and then, with first base open, intentionally walked Black. In the at-bat of Thompson, Marban dealt consecutive wild pitches that advanced both runners two bases, enabling Walker to race home and put the Intimidators in the 5-4 lead.
The Crawdads threatened another comeback in the bottom of the 10th inning, getting the potential game-tying run in C Kellin Deglan as far as third base, but LHP Wes Whisler (S, 3) and Kannapolis managed to escape for the 5-4 victory in extra innings.
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