'Dads Falter Late in 6-5, 10-Inning Loss

Kannapolis, NC - The Hickory Crawdads were two outs away from their second 3-game win streak of the season Sunday night in Kannapolis, but the 'Dads coughed up their late lead by giving up single runs in the 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th innings to fall to the Intimidators 6-5 at CMC-NorthEast Stadium.

In a sloppy game that featured seven combined errors and 14 total walks between the two teams, the Crawdads entered the 8^th inning with a 5-3 lead they had held since the 5^th. The Intimidators cut the score to 5-4 in the 8^th with a bases-loaded, RBI walk, then tied it up in the 9^th on an RBI single. In the 10^th, a bases-loaded RBI sacrifice fly by Trey Michalczewski scored Cleuluis Rondon to end the game with a 6-5 Hickory loss.

Prior to the late collapse, the 'Dads built their 5-3 lead with four unearned runs on three Kannapolis errors. The Crawdads jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2^nd when DH Joe Jackson reached on an error, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch, and finally scored on a RBI sacrifice fly by catcher Kevin Torres.

The Intimidators responded with two runs, one earned, in the bottom of the frame to put the 'Dads behind 2-1, but the Crawdads came back with three more runs to re-take the lead at 4-2. Two of the three runs in the frame were unearned thanks to a pair of Kannapolis errors, with back-to-back doubles by shortstop Michael De Leon and center fielder Evan Van Hoosier plating the lone earned tally.

The Intimidators picked up another unearned run in the 4^th to make the score 4-3, before the 'Dads scored their final run in the 5^th on a walk to Ronald Guzman, a single by Nomar Mazara, and a RBI base knock by Jackson to put the team ahead 5-3.

The 5-3 advantage would hold until the 8^th, when Kannapolis began their 3-inning comeback. The Crawdads had a pair of opportunities in the latter innings to add to their lead, but the 'Dads left a runner at third in the 8^th before Nick Vickerson was thrown out at home trying to score in the 9^th to leave the door open for the Intimidators.

Kannapolis reliever Jordan Guerrero (2-0) earned the win for throwing three scoreless innings from the 8^th through the 10^th. Crawdads bullpen arm Ryne Slack (2-1) took the loss after allowing the tying run in the 9^th and the losing run in the 10^th.

Jackson paced the Hickory offense in the loss, going 2-4 with two RBI, a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored. Mazara also ended up with a multi-hit game finishing 2-5 with a run scored, while Van Hoosier (1-4, 2B, RBI, R), Jairo Beras (1-5, 2B, 3 K), and De Leon (1-4, 2B, R) all ended the night with doubles.

The Crawdads (19-23) and Intimidators (21-21) have now split the first two games of their series, with game three scheduled for Monday night at 7:05 pm.

 

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