Tourists Split Double-Header With Drive

ASHEVILLE, NC-- Saturday night brought two contests to Tourists fans at McCormick Field. The Asheville Tourists and the Greenville Drive squared off for a double-header in lieu of Friday night's rain out and the result was a split. Asheville took the first game in a pitcher's duel 2-1. Greenville broke out the bats in game two and won 10-4.

Game one was filled pitching, defense, and strategy. Asheville jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Sean Dwyer's solo Home Run in the second. The Drive knotted the score 1-1 with an unearned run in the third. The score remained tied until Robbie Perkins delivered the go-ahead base hit. Asheville's backstop, who was initially attempting to bunt, roped a double to left that plated Forrest Wall from first base. The Tourists held on with a quality effort from their bullpen.

Game two belonged to the Drive from the beginning. Greenville plated seven runs in the first two frames and chased the Tourists starting pitcher after just 1.1 innings. Asheville managed a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Drew Weeks tripled home Emerson Jimenez, then later scored on a sacrifice fly from Kevin Padlo. Trailing 7-2, the Tourists crept a bit closer when Padlo sent an Aaron Wilkerson pitch over the left field wall for a two-run Homer. The Drive answered when Michael Chavis connected on his own two-run long ball.

Perkins finished game one 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and Dwyer reached base four times during the twin bill. Greenville's Derek Miller was a force; reaching base in seven of his eight plate appearances.

The Tourists and the Drive will wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 2:05pm.