Late-Game Heroics Lift Suns To Series Victory Over Lakewood

September 2, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hagerstown Suns News Release

LAKEWOOD, NJ - The Hagerstown Suns scored twice in the top of the ninth inning to take a 4-2 victory over the Lakewood BlueClaws at FirstEnergy park on Wednesday.

Steven Souza delivered the biggest hit of the inning, driving in pinch-runner Chris Curran to give the Suns a 3-2 lead with two outs in the inning. Souza then scored from second base on an infield-single by Steve Lombardozzi, as Lakewood second baseman Harold Garcia did not have time to throw out Lombardozzi at first base and did not notice Souza hustling around the basepaths.

The two runs in the ninth were more than enough for Hagerstown reliever Clayton Dill. After working a scoreless eighth, Dill (1-0) earned his first victory for Hagerstown by retiring the side in the ninth. Dill had had four strikeouts in his two innings of work and did not allow a base hit or a walk.

The Suns fell behind 1-0 in the fourth inning of the game, as starter Robinson Fabian walked Garcia who then scored on a double to left field by Lakewood first baseman Jim Murphy.

Hagerstown took a 2-1 lead with two runs on just one hit in the top of the seventh, before Lakewood tied it with a run of their own in the bottom of the same inning.

The Suns will now return to Municipal Stadium to start their final series of the year: a five game set against the Lake County Captains. The series will also mark Lake County's final games in the South Atlantic League, as the Captains will be moving to the Midwest League for the 2010 season.

First pitch of Thursday's game will come at 7:05 p.m.

South Atlantic League Stories from September 2, 2009

• Drive Head in Reverse Against Hot Rods, Lose 7-3 - Greenville Drive
• 'Hoppers escape Hickory with 6-3 win - Hickory Crawdads
• BlueClaws Lose Home Finale - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Scelfo Powers Hot Rods Past Drive 7-3 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Kannapolis comes closer with 5-1 win over West Virginia - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Late-Game Heroics Lift Suns To Series Victory Over Lakewood - Hagerstown Suns
• Playoff Hopes In Doubt After Loss To Kannapolis - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Cesario Smashes Asheville To Victory - Asheville Tourists
• Tourists score four in eighth, beat Legends 6-2 - Lexington Legends
• Charleston Pitching Outlasts Braves - Rome Emperors
• Dannemiller Lands Female Executive Of Year Award - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• RiverDogs Conquer Rome Again, 4-0, In 13 Innings - Charleston RiverDogs
• Runzler Gets Call to the Big Leagues - Augusta GreenJackets
• Suns Saving Their Best For Last Homestand Of 2009 - Hagerstown Suns
• Ratliff, Satin Promoted To St. Lucie - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Walk-Off Win Propels GreenJackets To Sweep Of Gnats - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park's Field Selected Best in South Atlantic League - Charleston RiverDogs
• Logan County Little League Honored by Hot Rods - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Monell's Two Home Runs Keep Jackets in Chase - Augusta GreenJackets
• Fan Appreciation Night Tonight, Roof-man and Playoffs Next Week - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Norris and Lombardozzi Selected to South Atlantic League Post-Season All-Star Team - Hagerstown Suns

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