Offensive Explosion Lifts 'Hounds to 17-6 Win Over Peanuts

Published on July 16, 2007 under South Coast League (SCL)
Aiken Foxhounds News Release


AIKEN, S.C. - The Aiken Foxhounds' offense exploded Monday night at Roberto Hernandez Stadium, drilling three home runs and collecting 19 hits on their way to a 17-6 victory over the visiting South Georgia Peanuts (37-12, 4-1). Seven of the eight 'Hounds position players had multiple hits in the game as Aiken (25-26, 3-3) handed the Peanuts, who won the South Coast League's first half, their first loss of the second half of the season.

Ben Bando hit his third home run in as many games, Chad Miller drilled a three-run shot in the eighth, and Josh Eachues put the Foxhounds ahead to stay with his first professional home run, a three-run shot to deep left in the fourth.

The visiting Peanuts wasted little time showing off their high-powered offense, scoring two runs in the first inning against Aiken starter Reid Price. With two outs, Doc Brooks followed a Mike Caruso single with a long home run to left field to give the 'Nuts a 2-0 lead.

The Foxhounds responded in their half of the first, doubling South Georgia's effort with four runs of their own. Scott Houin led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a Miller RBI single. After Chris Webb induced an out, Bradley Key doubled to center to drive in Miller and tie the game at 2-2. Bando then drilled a 1-1 pitch to left field, giving the 'Hounds a 4-2 advantage.

After two scoreless frames for both teams, the offenses got going again in the fourth. The Peanuts plated two runs in the inning on just one hit, getting an RBI groundout from Johnny Washington and benefiting from an error to tie the game.

Like in the first, Aiken wasted little time reclaiming the lead. Bando and Tim Sweeney both reached on one-out singles before Eachues took a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right for his first professional home run.

Brooks connected for his second home run, a solo shot just over the wall in left center, in the top of the fifth. The inning would be the last for Price (3-3), who allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits and two walks.

The hosts responded once again to the Peanuts, reaching double digits and extending their lead to 11-5 with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Bando and Eachues each drove in another run in the inning, and Houin plated a pair with a single to right.

South Georgia plated a lone run in the seventh to cut the lead to 11-6.

Facing the league's top offensive team, Aiken made sure they had plenty of insurance runs, scoring six more runs in the bottom of the eighth to increase their lead to 17-6. Miller followed a Houin walk and a Garth McKinney single with a three-run home run over the scoreboard in left center to start the inning. Tim Sweeney added an RBI single before Houin concluded the scoring with a two-run single to right.

In a game that featured five home runs, Houin quietly put together an impressive game in the leadoff spot. The outfielder came into the game hitting .350, and increased that average with a 4-for-5 night with a walk, two runs scored and four RBI.

Eachues reached base four times and drove in a career-high four, and Miller also drove in four for the Hounds. Bando finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI, and Key also collected three hits in five at-bats and scored three times.

Brooks went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three driven in for the visitors while Kyle Keen had two hits in four at-bats.

Aiken and South Georgia will play game two of their three-game series on Tuesday night at Hernandez Stadium with the first pitch slated for 7:05 PM.

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South Coast League Stories from July 16, 2007


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