Drive Sneak Past Power Late for Second Straight Win

Charleston, WV - An RBI triple by Kervin Suarez in the top of the ninth inning gave the Greenville Drive the lead for good in a 4-2 victory over the West Virginia Power on Friday night. The Drive have now started off 2-0 for the second consecutive season.

Despite striking out 17 times in Friday's contest, the Drive offense came through with hits when it needed them, including in the two-run ninth. Samuel Miranda laced a two-out double off Blake Cederlind (0-1) to set the stage for Suarez, who overcame four strikeouts in his first four at-bats and laced a triple to center. He then came in to score on a Power (0-2) error, one of their five miscues on the night.
The rally made a winner of Denyi Reyes (1-0), who delivered five outstanding innings of relief. The right-hander allowed just one unearned run on two hits with five strikeouts.
Ryan Peurifoy's RBI groundout in the bottom of the second gave the Power a 1-0 lead.
That was the only run allowed by Greenville starter Kutter Crawford, who struck out five in four innings while allowing just two hits.
The Drive tied the game at one in the fifth against Travis MacGregor, as Jagger Rusconi reached third on a Power error, and he came home on a single by Michael Osinski.
West Virginia came back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom half on a Drive error, but in the top of the sixth, a leadoff triple by Cole Brannen followed by a Power throwing error tied things back up at two.
Osinski went 2-3 with an RBI after entering the game in the third inning. Brannen and Miranda added two hits apiece.
MacGregor punched out 12 hitters in five and one-third innings for West Virginia.
Saturday's contest is scheduled for a 2:05 PM first pitch. Right-hander Hunter Haworth will take the mound for the Drive, and he will be countered by Power right-hander Gavin Wallace.
­~Greenville Drive~