Prairie Dogs Get on the Board

May 24, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Abilene Prairie Dogs News Release


EDINBURGH, TX -- After a 13 year hiatus, the Abilene Prairie Dogs began the 2012 season with a 4-0 victory in Edinburgh on Wednesday night. Catapulting the Dogs back into existence was veteran left-hander Adam Rowe. The 30-year-old was masterful over seven innings of work, yielding 5 hits as Abilene shutout the Roadrunners on opening night.

However, Rowe was not the only Prairie Dog to carry the mail in the first game of the season. Three members of the visiting lineup recorded multiple hits, including Nick Ochoa who was three-for-three with a two runs scored and an R.B.I.

After the first three innings saw the Dogs strand four base runners, Ochoa launched a one-out double into the right-centerfield gap in the fourth. Bryan Fogle then provided the first R.B.I. of Abilene's season as he bounced a double past the diving third baseman Carlos Heraud and into the leftfield corner. After Jessie Mier popped out the catcher, Reggie Williams laced a single into left-centerfield, one of three base hits on the night for the shortstop, helping Abilene snatch a 2-0 advantage.

Still leading by a pair two innings later, Joe Weik led off the sixth with towering homerun into the Prairie Dogs bullpen beyond the leftfield corner; when first round tripper of the season landed, the Prairie Dogs had a 3-0 lead.

Armed with an insurance run, Rowe continued to sift through the Edinburgh lineup. The lefty allowed two sixth inning singles but struck out cleanup hitter Tim Battle to strand the pair in the sixth.

After retiring the side in order in the seventh, Rowe gave way to Eric Schaler in the eighth. Schaler hit the first batter he faced before walking the shortstop Pascual Del Real. With the first two runners aboard, the Prairie Dogs lifted Schaler and called for Scott Vander Weg. The right-hander was equal to the task as he struck out the first batter he faced and then forced a pair of fly outs to stifle the threat.

Eddie Browne provided an insurance run with a ninth inning R.B.I. single, and Todd Weldon retired the side in the bottom of the ninth to bring Abilene an opening night victory.

The Prairie Dogs continue the four game series with the Roadrunners when the same teams square off at 7:05 on Thursday evening.

Hear the game live on KLGD 106.9 beginning with the First Financial Pregame show at 6:55.



North American League Stories from May 24, 2012


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