Marcelino, Stephens Come Up Big in Walk Off Win

ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists came out of the gates on fire Monday night. After allowing three first inning runs to the Greenville Drive, Asheville exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the first. Greenville never went away and forced the Tourists into some late heroics that led to a walk off 11-10 win.
The Drive plated a pair of runs in the second inning and three more in the fifth. Asheville held a 9-8 lead all the way until the top of the ninth. Asheville attempted to close the door but Greenville used a two-run double to take the lead 10-9.

In the bottom of the ninth the Tourists were down to their final strike. Ramon Marcelino then hit an 0-2 pitch over the right field wall to tie the game 10-10 and force extras. In the tenth, Tommy Doyle prevented Greenville from scoring and Brett Stephens delivered a walk-off single up the middle to give the Tourists an 11-10 victory.
The two teams combined for 21 runs on 32 hits. Greenville's starting pitcher, Hildemaro Requena, lasted only one inning. Hidekel Gonzalez paced the Tourists offense with three hits and a walk; including a clutch tenth inning single prior to Stephens' walk-off hit.
Chad Spanberger hit a three-run Home Run in the first inning and finished with a game-high four RBI. The eight-run first inning is the biggest individual inning for the Tourists this season. After a brief dry spell at the plate Asheville has scored 25 runs over their last two games, both wins.