Mendoza's Walk off Home Run Concludes Crazy Education Day
May 15, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
ASHEVILLE - The Asheville Tourists and the Kannapolis Intimidators wrapped up their series on Tuesday morning in style. Asheville overcame a six-run deficit to take a three-run lead. Kannapolis then tied it and Asheville used a walk-off Home Run to win it.
Shael Mendoza came with the plate in the bottom of the ninth with one out and a runner at first base. Mendoza launched his walk-off Home Run over the right field wall and Asheville defeated Kannapolis 14-12. That was just the last chapter of a game filled with drama.
The Tourists took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Bret Boswell Home Run. Kannapolis scored the game's next five runs with two in the third and three in the fourth. The Tourists crept closer thanks to a fourth inning RBI single by Taylor Snyder and a fifth inning RBI single by Casey Golden.
Once again, the Intimidators offense exploded. Kannapolis built a 9-3 lead with a three-run sixth and another in the seventh. The Tourists used a three-run bottom of the seventh, including a two-run double by Boswell, to make the score 9-6.
In the eighth Asheville started things off with a Brett Stephens RBI groundout. Mendoza drove in a run with a single, and Sean Bouchard tied the game with a two-out infield single. The next batter, Ramon Marcelino, blasted a three-run Home Run to give Asheville a 12-9 advantage.
The Intimidators would not go away. Kannapolis scored three runs with two outs in the top of the ninth to extend the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Mendoza made sure the Tourists came out on top.
The two teams combined for 26 runs and 33 hits. All four games in the series were decided by three runs or less.
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South Atlantic League Stories from May 15, 2018
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- I's Drop a Crazy 26-Run Game with Asheville - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Mendoza's Walk off Home Run Concludes Crazy Education Day - Asheville Tourists
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (May 15) - Charleston Dirty Birds
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- 'Dads Conquer Rome with Walkoff Single - Hickory Crawdads
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