Bierfeldt's Slam Enough in 5-4 Win

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds only had three hits in Thursday's series opener with the West Virginia Power, but they received just enough offense for a 5-4 win. Highlighted by Conor Bierfeldt's grand slam, the Shorebirds (22-18) rallied for a five-run third inning and then held off the Power in the later stages.

West Virginia got the scoring started with three singles in the first inning. Taylor Gushue drove home Cole Tucker for a 1-0 Power lead. Shorebirds' starter Sebastian Vader settled in after the first, not allowing another hit until the seventh.

The big rally for Delmarva in the third inning came with only two hits. After a single by Jared Breen, Colten Brewer plunked Jonah Heim. Jay Gonzalez reached on a dropped fly ball down the left field line, loading the bases. Steve Wilkerson forced in a run with a hit-by-pitch, tying the game at one run apiece. Then, Bierfeldt launched a grand slam, his team-high sixth home run of the year. The Shorebirds slugger leads the South Atlantic League with 40 RBIs in 36 games played.

The Power steadily chipped away at the Shorebirds' 5-1 advantage. A run scored in the bottom half of the third on an errant throw as Delmarva attempted to turn a double play. Chase Simpson scored on a sacrifice fly in the seventh after leading off the frame with a double. Another sacrifice fly in the eighth inning trimmed the Delmarva lead to 5-4.

Donnie Hart came on to close out the victory. The first batter of the ninth reached on a throwing error, but Hart quickly induced a double play and struck out Tyler Filliben to end the night. 

Vader earned the win with a quality start, a nice bounce back outing after losing his previous two starts. Colten Brewer suffered the loss for West Virginia. Hart kept his perfect streak going for his ninth save in nine chances, tied for the league lead. The closer has pitched 12 1/3 innings without a run allowed this season.

Delmarva pulls into a tie with West Virginia for second place in the South Atlantic League Northern Division. Both teams sit at 22-18, five games back of the Hickory Crawdads.

The Shorebirds and Power square off in game two of this four-game series on Friday night. Left-hander Bennett Parry (3-2, 2.63) will take the hill for Delmarva against Power right-hander Austin Coley (5-2, 3.11). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park.