Round Rock Sends Off Colorado Springs 8-4

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (39-45) collected their second straight victory 8-4 in what will go down as the last game played at Dell Diamond for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (46-37). With the Sky Sox set to relocate before next season, the Express' all-time record at home against the Sky Sox will rest at 32-28.
Round Rock starter LHP David Hurlbut (3-5, 4.86) snagged the win after giving up four runs over 5.0 innings on the hill. The southpaw held Colorado Springs scoreless through four frames, striking out four while allowing six hits. Sky Sox starter RHP Adrian Houser (1-1, 5.06) only recorded two outs in the loss as the Express bats were charged up in the early going.
Round Rock was able to chase Houser from the game immediately in the bottom of the first, pelting the Sky Sox hurler for three runs on four hits and two walks. With two outs in the inning, E-Train LF Scott Heineman produced the first of his four singles on the night and advanced to second when the next batter, DH Willie Calhoun , was hit by a pitch.
With 3B Andy Ibáñez at the plate, Heineman and Calhoun pulled off a double steal of third and second. Attempting to nab Calhoun for the final out of the frame, Colorado Springs C Jett Bandy air-mailed a throw into centerfield, allowing Heineman to trot home and put Round Rock ahead 1-0.
An Ibanez base hit would put runners on the corners before RF Hunter Cole and SS Nick Noonan punched out back-to-back RBI singles to end Houser's outing and extend the gap 3-0.
The E-Train trucked on in the bottom of the fourth, piling on four more runs to make it 7-0. C Tony Sanchez kicked things off with a booming double off the wall in left, eventually scoring on a Robinson sacrifice fly. After 2B Cliff Pennington was hit by a pitch and Heineman singled, Calhoun curved a line-drive homer around the right field foul pole to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
The Sky Sox bats finally got on the board in the top of the fifth when Bandy and LF Tyrone Taylor crushed a pair of homers off Hurlbut, slicing Round Rock's lead to 7-4.
With Colorado Springs closing in, Noonan connected on his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth. An opposite-field solo shot that finalized the Round Rock win at 8-4.
Tomorrow the Express will roll out on a five-day road trip before the July 9th All-Star break as they meet up with the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Wednesday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Round Rock RHP Richelson Peña (1-1, 4.50) slated to face Dodgers LHP Kyle Lobstein (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CDT.
For more information on the Express, visit RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!