Offense Stays Hot in Crawdads 11-9 Win
Published on May 26, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads once again received a stellar performance from their surging offense Monday night and this time received just enough pitching to make it hold up, as the 'Dads outlasted the Kannapolis Intimidators for an 11-9 Memorial Day win at L.P. Frans Stadium.
The hot-hitting Crawdads continued their assault on South Atlantic League pitching with their 8th straight game of at least nine hits, over which time the 'Dads have scored double digit runs in four games. Hickory's 13-hit output included five different batters with a multi-hit game, six hitters with at least one run scored, and five players with one or more RBI.
Leading the charge was DH Nomar Mazara, who went 2-4 with his 4th home run of the year and a season-high 4 RBI to go along with a double, a walk, and three runs scored. Ryan Cordell finished his third straight game just one hit short of the cycle, this time going 3-5 with a triple, double, two runs scored and a RBI. Evan Van Hoosier (2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R), Kellin Deglan (2-3, 2B, BB, R), and Michael De Leon (2-4, RBI, 2 R) all ended the night with multi-hit games, while Ronald Guzman went 1-3 with a homer and three RBI.
The offensive barrage provided just enough support for the Crawdads pitching staff, which allowed nine runs on 12 hits to the Intimidators. Center fielder Jacob Morris paced the Kannapolis offense, as he tied a SAL record with four doubles to go along with 2 RBI and three runs scored.
Kannapolis struck the first blow in the ballgame, jumping on Hickory starter Kelvin Vasquez for four runs in the 1st for a 4-0 lead. The 'Dads quickly responded with a RBI double from Cordell and a RBI groundout from Joe Jackson in the 1st, followed by a RBI base knock from De Leon and a RBI double by Van Hoosier in the 2nd to tie the game up at 4-4.
Kannapolis retook the lead in the top of the 3rd with a pair of runs, but once again Hickory answered with a 2-run big fly to right by Guzman to tie the score at 6-6. Finally in the 4th the Crawdads took a lead they would never relinquish, as Mazara crushed a 3-run blast to right for a 9-6 advantage.
The two teams swapped runs again in the 6th, with Kannapolis plating a pair on a double by Hunter Jones while Hickory scored two on a Mazara RBI triple and a RBI sacrifice fly from Guzman for an 11-8 score. The Intimidators tried one last rally in the 9th, scoring once and brining the go ahead run to the plate, but Hickory reliever Kevin Pucetas was able to minimize the damage and get the final out in the 'Dads 11-9 win.
Vasquez (2-1) earned the win after settling down from his early struggles, finishing the night with six runs allowed on five hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts over five innings pitched. Kannapolis starter and Hickory native Tyler Barnette (2-3) took the loss after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits, over three innings. Pucetas earned his first save of the year for getting the final six outs of the game.
The Crawdads (24-25) and Intimidators (21-28) will meet again Tuesday night in game two of the three game series at 6:00 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 26, 2014
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- Wade Scores Twice as Drew, Drive Win Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Sixth Straight Loss for Rome, 14-6 - Rome Emperors
- Power Crushes Rome - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Shock Suns - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Offense Stays Hot in Crawdads 11-9 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- McGowan Blanks Jackets in Rain-Shortened Game Monday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Home Sweet Home, Tourists Handle Legends 10-3 - Asheville Tourists
- Five-Run First Keys Tourists Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Morris Ties League Record for Doubles in Loss - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Domingo German, Hoppers Blank Claws 4-0 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- SAL HOF Induction Tickets on Sale - Hickory Crawdads
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Game Notes vs. Hagerstown - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Rome Braves Roster Moves - Rome Emperors
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) at Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) - May 26, 2014 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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