FOUR HOME RUNS LIFT CRAWDADS TO 9-4 WIN IN GAME ONE

TJ Baxter Connects on Team High Eighth Homer

Hickory, NC – The Hickory Crawdads blasted four home runs en route to a 9-4 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds on Saturday night at L.P. Frans Stadium. The Shorebirds have dropped the series opener in seven of their last eight series.

The Shorebirds powered into the lead in the top of the first inning. On the fifth pitch of the game by Jake Brigham, TJ Baxter lifted a home run over the right-center field wall. It was his team high eighth homer of the season.

The Crawdads responded immediately in the bottom of the first inning. After Pat Kantakevich retired the first two hitters, Zach Zaneski hit a home run over the left field wall. The the next batter, Jared Bolden, hit a towering homer over the right field wall to give the Crawdads a 2-1 edge.

In the third, the Crawdads tacked on another run. Leury Garcia led off with a single and stole his 40th base of the season. Then, Jonathan Roof hit a single to left that Levi Carolus threw low back to cutoff man Garabez Rosa, allowing Garcia to score.

The Shorebirds trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the fourth. Carolus drew a one out walk. Then, Omar Casamayor hit a high chopper down the right field line to score Carolus from first.

The Crawdads tacked on two more in the fourth inning to build a 5-2 edge. With Ed Koncel aboard, Guillermo Pimentel hit his first home run of the season over the left field wall to give the ‘Dads a 5-2 lead. The Crawdads added one more in the fifth inning to build a 6-2 lead.

The Shorebirds cut into the deficit again in the sixth inning. Ty Kelly singled to open the inning. Two batters later, Carolus doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Then, Gary Helmick hit a bouncer to second to plate Kelly. Mikey Planeta followed with an infield single off pitcher Jake Brigham’s glove to cut the deficit to 6-4.

In the eighth inning, the Crawdads put the game out of reach. With two men aboard, Ed Koncel blasted a Will Startup pitch over the left field wall to balloon the lead to 9-4.

RHP Brigham earned the win in seven innings for the Crawdads. RHP Patrick Kantakevich was pinned with the loss in 4.2 innings.

The Shorebirds and Crawdads play game two of the series on Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. RHP Bobby Bundy makes the start against RHP Braden Tullis.