SHOREBIRDS DROP WILD AFFAIR, 9-7, TO CLOSE HICKORY SERIES

‘Birds Return to Perdue Stadium Saturday Night Against Lakewood

Hickory, N.C. – The Hickory Crawdads scored seven runs in the fifth inning and hung on tight for a 9-7 win over Delmarva on Friday night at L.P. Frans Stadium.

The Delmarva Shorebirds cracked the scoreboard first on the fourth pitch of the game. Brian Conley lashed a home run inside the foul pole in right field. It was his fifth homer of the season and second in as many nights.

The Crawdads tied the game in the third and took an 8-1 lead in the fifth by plating seven runs. Zach Zaneski hit a grand slam homer to highlight the half inning.

The Shorebirds stormed back with a run in the sixth and five runs in the eighth inning. Luis Bernardo hit a rocket line drive to the right field corner to score two runs and pull the ‘Birds within one at the time.

Hickory plated a run in the bottom of the eighth and keep the ‘Birds at bat in the ninth.

Benches cleared in the ninth inning when Kieron Pope was hit by a pinch on the upper part of his left arm for a second straight at-bat. After things settled, Ty Kelly grounded to short to end the game.

Hickory starter Robbie Erlin (5-2) earned the win in five innings. Delmarva starter Patrick Kantakevich (0-3) was pinned with the loss.