
Tourists Run over Drive, 14-6
Published on May 17, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Asheville, NC - The Asheville Tourists (23-18) weren't very hospitable hosts for the Greenville Drive's (21-19) first visit to Asheville in 2014, as an eight-run second inning propelled the Tourists to a 14-6 victory on Saturday night.
Asheville's barrage of baserunners in the second knocked Drive starter Myles Smith (0-2) out of the game. After a pair of one-out walks, Jose Briceno dumped an RBI single to right for the first run of the night, and Alec Mehrten followed with an RBI single of his own.
Later in the frame, David Dahl hit an RBI single, Zach Osborne lifted a sacrifice fly, and a throwing error led to Asheville's fifth run. Pat Valaika's RBI double to left chased Smith, and Mario Alcantara promptly gave up RBI doubles to Ryan McMahon and Ashley Graeter.
The Tourists pushed the score to 10-0 after RBI hits from Max White and Dahl.
Jantzen Witte finally got the Drive on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth when he smacked a three-run homer to right against Alex Balog (3-3).
Those were the only runs against Balog, who earned the victory with five and a third-innings and four strikeouts.
McMahon delivered an RBI single against Alcantara in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 11-3, and he added a 2-run single in the eighth against Mike Adams for more insurance. He led the way offensively for Asheville with a 3-5 night and four RBI.
The Drive scored three runs in the ninth on Jake Romanski's two-run double and Manuel Margot's RBI groundout.
Graeter joined McMahon with three hits for the Tourists, and Dahl went 2-4 with two RBI. Witte had two hits and three RBI to lead the Drive, and Romanski and Tzu-Wei Lin added a pair of hits apiece.
Game two of the four game series is set for 2:05 on Sunday afternoon in Asheville. RH Ty Buttrey (0-2, 13.50) will start for the Drive, and the Tourists will send RH Konner Wade (2-4, 6.38) to the mound.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 17, 2014
- Offense Still Rolling; Tourists Trounce Drive 14-6 - Asheville Tourists
- GreenJackets Walk Off a Winner - Augusta GreenJackets
- 'Birds Bats Come Alive in 11-4 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Clutch Hit Eludes Gnats Saturday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- HRs Back Pitching for 4-1 Crawdads' Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Power shut down by Delmarva - Charleston Dirty Birds
- 7,439 See Legends Take Series Opener over Hagerstown - Lexington Legends
- 'Dads use long ball to blast past Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Clutch Hit Eludes Gnats Saturday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Gallegos Wins Series Opener at Savannah - Charleston RiverDogs
- Tourists Run over Drive, 14-6 - Greenville Drive
- 'Dads Open Fan Vote for All-Star Game - Hickory Crawdads
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) - May 17, 2014 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Game Notes at West Virginia () - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Legends Welcome Division Leaders for Eight-Game Homestand - Lexington Legends
- Tourists Heat up a Cool Asheville Night; Beat Legends 11-1 - Asheville Tourists
- Crawdas & RiverDogs Split Twin Bill - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Split with Drive on Friday - Savannah Sand Gnats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Greenville Drive Stories
- Drive Rally Past Tourists, 9-6, to Give Liam Carroll 200th Career Win
- Carroll Collects 200th Career Win as Drive Manager
- Drive Rally from Five Down Before Falling to Tourists in Extras, 7-6
- Jackson Delivers in the Ninth as Drive Erase Deficit, Beat Asheville in 10
- Late Power Surge Carries Drive Past Tourists, 8-4, for 4th Straight Win

