Curve score eight straight to stun Senators, 9-8

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Altoona Curve scored eight runs over the final two innings to beat the Harrisburg Senators, 9-8, in the series finale at FNB Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Curve (10-10) avoided a sweep after scoring two in the eighth and six in the ninth against the Senators (9-12).
Trailing 8-1 entering the eighth, Jackson Williams hit a two-run homer, his first of the season, to close the gap to 8-3.
Tweet from @AltoonaCurve: Jackson Williams blasts a two-run homer, his first of the seasonWe're down 8-3 in the seventh in Harrisburg pic.twitter.com/T0TyEsjEya
In the ninth inning, the first two Curve batters reached on fielding errors by the Harrisburg infield and Ke'Bryan Hayes was walked by Bryan Harper (Loss, 1-1) to load the bases with no outs.
Jordan George followed with a bases-clearing, three-run double to pull Altoona within two runs. After Wyatt Mathisen walked, Will Craig singled in George to pull within a run.
Tweet from @AltoonaCurve: .@ZGeorge_7 rips a three-run double and we're back within two runs Don't go anywhere just yet. We're down 8-6 in the ninth inning. pic.twitter.com/chAgHeVo7R
With still no outs in the inning, Williams tied the game with an RBI single and Elvis Escobar put the Curve ahead with a run-scoring fielder's choice ground out to cap the six-run inning and put the Curve ahead, 9-8.
Tweet from @AltoonaCurve: BRAND NEW BALLGAME.Jackson Williams singles home @wmathisen_4 and we're all tied up 8-8 in the ninth inning pic.twitter.com/LIynbn3apG
Harrisburg put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, but Tate Scioneaux (Save, 1) struck out Osvaldo Abreu to end the game.
Harrisburg jumped ahead with two early runs against Curve starter Taylor Hearn. In the first, Taylor Gushue and Austin Davidson knocked RBI singles to put the Senators up, 2-0.
The Curve responded with a run in the third inning on an RBI fielder's choice groundout by Cole Tucker.
Hearn settled in through the fourth before hitting trouble in the fifth. After a one-out walk and a fielder's choice grounder that did not result in an out, former Curve Dan Gamache drove a two-run double. Later in the inning, Davidson hit a three-run homer to extend the Harrisburg lead to 7-1.
For the day, Hearn allowed a career-high seven earned runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Sean Keselica replaced Hearn with two outs the inning and surrendered an RBI double to Abreu before ending the six-run frame.
The Senators loaded the bases in the seventh inning, but Jake Brentz struck out Daniel Johnson to work out of the jam without allowing a run.
Geoff Hartlieb (Win, 3-0) pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning with one strikeout.
Williams finished the day 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. George had two hits, including his three-run double, and scored a run.
The Curve open a three-game road series against the Flying Squirrels on Monday night. Right-hander J.T. Brubaker (1-1, 1.57) will start on the mound for the Curve, opposed by Richmond right-hander Jordan Johnson (2-2, 3.22). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.
The Curve return to Altoona to open a five-game series against the Erie SeaWolves on Thursday night. For tickets or more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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