CRAWDADS TRIP UP SHOREBIRDS, 8-5, IN GAME THREE

Series Finale on Thursday Night at 7:00 p.m.

Hickory, N.C. – The Hickory Crawdads used a consistent attack to take the upper hand in the series with a 8-5 win over the Shorebirds in game three at L.P. Frans Stadium on Wednesday night.

Hickory tallied a run in each of the first three innings. In the first inning, Leury Garcia stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch. In the second, Ed Koncel hit an RBI triple to plate Matt Zaneski. The Crawdads plated two runs in the third to grab a 4-0 lead. Cristian Santana hit a two-run double to score Miguel Velazquez and Jared Prince.

The Shorebirds plated two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Brian Conley hit a one out single. Tyler Stampone then grounded back to the pitcher Joe Wieland, who fired wide to second, which advanced Conley to third. Steve Bumbry then knocked home Conley with a sharp single to right field. Stampone scored on a grounder to third by Mikey Planeta.

The Crawdads plated two runs in the fifth inning and two in the seventh inning to build a 8-2 lead.

In the ninth inning, the Shorebirds mounted a rally against Braden Tullis. Bumbry connected on a lead off double to deep center field. He advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a grounder by Michael Givens towards third. Then, Michael Ohlman smoked a double to the left field corner to score Givens from first, which cut the deficit to 8-4. Ohlman scored on a flare single to left field by T.J. Baxter. Tullis retired Ty Kelly to end the rally.

Crawdads starter Joe Wieland earned the win in six innings. He allowed six hits and two earned runs. Shorebirds starter Bobby Bundy was saddled with the loss in four innings.

The Delmarva Shorebirds will play the series finale on Thursday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Luis Noel will take the ball for the Shorebirds.