Bats Back Benjamin in 7-3 Crawdads Win

Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads received solid performances from both the pitching mound and batters box Thursday night, as 'Dads starting hurler Wes Benjamin struck out 8 over 6 strong frames while the Hickory hitters clubbed 12 hits in a 7-3 win over the Kannapolis Intimidators at L.P. Frans Stadium.

Benjamin led the way for the Crawdads from the mound, as the southpaw hurler tied career-highs in both innings pitched (6) and strikeouts (8). The Illinois native received plenty of support from the 'Dads bats, which put up 2 runs in each of the first two frames before striking for 3 tallies to put the game away in the 7^th.

The 1^st inning surge began with the leadoff hitter for Hickory, as Eric Jenkins lined a triple to left-center field before coming in one batter later on an RBI hit from Josh Altmann that ricocheted off pitcher Johnathan Frebis' foot and into left field for a double. One out later, Tyler Sanchez lofted a broken bat, RBI single to left to put the Crawdads on top 2-0.

Hickory doubled their advantage to 4-0 in the 2^nd, this time using some help from the Kannapolis defense to plate a pair of unearned runs. Ti'Quan Forbes started the rally with a one-out double to left before he advanced to third on a fielding error by Kannapolis shortstop Max Dutto that also allowed Connor McKay to reach. Forbes then scored and McKay advanced to third when first baseman K.J. Woods threw wildly to third on a pickoff throw for the Intimidators' second error of the inning. Sherman Lacrus then drove in the final run of the frame on an RBI sacrifice fly to put the 'Dads ahead by 4.

Fast-forward to the 5^th, and the Crawdads pulled away with 3 more runs, 2 unearned, for a 7-0 lead. Jenkins once again got the offense started with a one-out walk followed by a line drive to left off the bat of Altmann that Kannapolis left fielder Landon Lassiter dropped for an error that allowed Jenkins to score all the way from first. Dylan Moore followed with a 2-run home run to left for his 6^th long ball of the season and a 7-run Hickory advantage.

The Intimidators finally got on the board in the 6^th, when Tyler Sullivan lined a 2-run homer off the right field foul pole to cut the score to 7-2. Kannapolis picked up one last run in the 8^th on a walk to Lassiter and an RBI double off the center field fence by Woods to make the score 7-3. That would be as close as the visiting team would get however, as Crawdads reliever Emerson Martinez tossed a scoreless 9^th to finish off the 7-3 Hickory victory.

Benjamin (3-4) earned the win for the 'Dads with 2 runs allowed on 6 hits, 0 walks, and 8 strikeouts over his 6 innings pitched. Frebis (5-7) took the loss for Kannapolis after giving up 7 runs, 3 earned, on 9 hits, 1 walk, and 1 K over his 5 IP.

7 of the 9 Hickory hitters picked up at least one hit while four batters collected a multi-hit game. Sanchez led the way with a 3-4 night including an RBI, Jenkins finished 2-3 with a triple, a walk, and two runs scored, and Moore ended the night 1-4 with a home run and 2 RBI.

The Crawdads (3-5/41-37) and Intimidators (4-4/28-50) will play again Friday night at 7:00 pm in game two of their 4-game series.

 

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