Crawdads Take NDCS Game Game 2 with 6-3 W
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads rode their bullpen and a consistent offensive attack to a must-win victory over the West Virginia Power Friday night, as the 'Dads staved off elimination and forced a decisive playoff game with a 6-3 victory over the Power at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Trailing the Power 0-1 in the best-of-three Northern Division Championship Series, the Crawdads victory in Friday's contest sets up a winner-take-all NDCS game 3 Saturday night at L.P. Frans Stadium. The winner of the game will go on to face either Asheville or Savannah in the South Atlantic League Championship.
The 'Dads bats were a relentless presence throughout the game, as the Crawdads put a man into scoring position in all 8 offensive frames while scoring a run in five different innings. Despite the consistent pressure the Hickory hitters were limited to single runs in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 6th innings, resulting in four lead changes and three ties. The Crawdads entered the 8th inning with a 4-3 advantage before All-Star Luke Tendler was finally able to deliver a big blow in the form of a 2-out, 2-RBI triple off the right field wall to give the 'Dads the 6-3 lead they would win by.
Hickory began the scoring against West Virginia hurler Stephen Tarpley in the 1st, with three consecutive 2-out singles by Jose Trevino, Tendler, and Edwin Garcia combining to put the 'Dads ahead 1-0. The Power responded in the 2nd, when Taylor Gushue drew a 2-out walk from Crawdads ace Ariel Jurado before ninth place hitter Connor Joe launched the first pitch he saw over the left field fence for a 2-run home run and a 2-1 West Virginia lead.
The 'Dads came back to tie the contest in the 3rd, with a double from Dylan Moore, a single by Trevino, and an RBI groundout from Garcia knotting the score at 2-2. Hickory re-took the lead the next inning when Juremi Profar reached on a fielding error by Power third baseman Chase Simpson and eventually scored on an RBI base knock by Eric Jenkins for a 3-2 Crawdads advantage.
The game once again moved to a tie in the 5th as West Virginia was able to chase Jurado with a 2-out, RBI single from Kevin Kramer for a 3-3 score, but the Crawdads quickly bounced back thanks to a bloop, RBI single to left from Jose Cardona that brought home Profar and put the 'Dads ahead for good at 4-3. Tendler's 2-RBI triple in the 8th capped the scoring to give Hickory the 6-3 victory.
The offensive support backed a shutout performance by the Hickory bullpen, as Jeffery Springs, Dillon Tate, and Scott Williams combined to keep the Power off the board on just two hits over 4.1 combined innings of relief. Tate (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings on two hits and 2 strikeouts, while Tarpley (0-1) took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on nine hits, two walks, and 3 Ks over his 5.1 IP. Williams (1) picked up the 6-out save for the Crawdads with three Ks to end the game.
Trevino paced the 'Dads offense, going 3-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored. Tendler finished 2-5 with a triple and 2 RBIs, while Cardona went 1-3 with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored.
The Crawdads (1-1) and Power (1-1) will finish the NDCS with the third and final game Saturday night at 7:00 pm.
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