Hamilton and Santana Both Homer in 9-7 Win

HICKORY- The Asheville Tourists battled their way to a 9-7 victory over the Hickory Crawdads on Friday night in a game that featured six lead changes. In the end, the Tourists had just enough firepower to defeat the Crawdads for the third time in four games.

Hickory took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before Asheville rallied for two runs in the top of the second. Joey Loperfido drove in Cristian Gonzalez with a Sacrifice Fly and Kenedy Corona added a two-out RBI single that scored Luis Guerrero.

The Crawdads responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to claim a 3-2 advantage. In the top of the third, Quincy Hamilton put the Tourists back in front with a 416-foot two-run Homer to right field. Hickory once again re-took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Asheville loaded the bases in the top of the sixth down 5-4 and Michael Sandle came through with a two-out RBI single to tie the game. JC Correa then worked a walk to force in the go-ahead run. The Tourists added some much-needed insurance down the stretch. Luis Santana belted a solo Home Run in the seventh and Correa added a two-run double in the eighth.

Ryan Gusto kept the Crawdads off the scoreboard from the fifth inning through the eighth before Hickory mounted a ninth-inning rally. The home team scored two runs and had two runners aboard with two outs. Asheville went to their closer Danny Cody and he secured the final out of the game.

Hamilton led the way offensively with three hits while Correa, Sandle, and Guerrero each finished with a multi-hit game.

Tourists Game Recaps are presented by Jackson Electrical Contractors, Inc