Rockers Outhit, Outpitch Power, 7-3
July 31, 2021 - Atlantic League (AtL)
High Point Rockers News Release
HIGH POINT, N.C. - High Point pitcher Cooper Casad became the Rockers' first five game winner and received three innings of no-hit support from the bullpen as the Rockers defeated West Virginia 7-3 Saturday night in front of 2,304 at Truist Point.
Stuart Levy and Stephen Cardullo paced High Point's 10-hit attack on offense by combining for seven hits including three doubles, and six RBI. Levy was four-for-four while Cardullo went three-for-five.
Nate Easley homered with one out in the top of the first to give the Power a 1-0 lead. West Virginia added another run in the second on a leadoff double by Rymer Liriano who eventually scored on an infield sacrifice fly for a 2-0 West Virginia advantage.
The Rockers took the lead with a four-run outburst in the fourth. Brett Centracchio started the frame with a single and was followed by a ground ball by Johnny Field that went under the glove of third baseman Ben Farias for an error. Cardullo then hammered a three-run homer, his 10th of the season, to put the Rockers up 3-2. Back-to-back doubles by Jerry Downs and Levy extended High Point's lead to 4-2.
West Virginia closed the gap to 4-3 in the fourth when Yovan Gonzalez doubled and scored on a sac fly by Connor Myers.
High Point went ahead 5-3 in the fifth when Cardullo walked, stole second and scored on a single by Levy. The same duo repeated the act in the seventh, this time Cardullo hitting a double with Levy driving him home with a single. Later in the seventh, J.R. DiSarcina singled with the bases loaded to plate Levy for a 7-3 High Point lead.
Casad (5-0) went six innings and allowed seven hits and three runs. He walked just one and struck out three. Kyle Halbohn pitched a one-two-three inning in the seventh and Daniel James walked one but did not allow a run in the eighth. Preston Gainey set the Power down in order in the ninth to preserve the win.
High Point and Gastonia will conclude their three-game series at Truist Point at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday.
NOTES
The Rockers are expected to sign RHP Mitch Atkins on Sunday and he is expected to start vs. West Virginia. Atkins was with the Rockers from spring training through June 19 when his contract was purchased by Monterrey of the Mexican League. Atkins was 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA and was leading the Atlantic League in ERA when he went to Mexico where he went 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA.
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