Crawdads Blowout IronBirds 20-2

Hickory, NC- The Crawdads smoked the IronBirds 20-2 on Friday night. The ‘Dads hit 5 homers and picked up 23 hits off Aberdeen.

Kellen Strahm sparked a rally for the ‘Dads in the bottom of the first, starting off the inning with a single and advancing to second on a fielding error. Justin Foscue hit a line drive double to left to bring in Strahm for the first run of the game. Blaine Crim smoked his 15th homerun of the season to put the Crawdads ahead 3-0.

In the bottom of the second the Crawdads kept it going, adding on four more runs. Frainyer Chavez led off the inning with a bunt single on the third base side. Justin Foscue homered to left-center to make the score 5-0. The homerun marked the fifth straight game in which he has gone deep. Crim and David Garcia both singled to put two aboard for Jonathan Ornelas. Ornelas delivered, hitting a double to right that scored both and gave the ‘Dads a seven-run lead.

The bats didn’t stop, putting up four more in the third inning. Jared Walker drew a walk and stole second to get himself into scoring position. Strahm drew a walk to put a pair on for Justin Foscue, who doubled in Walker and moved Strahm to third. Crim blasted his second homerun of the night to make the score 11-0.

Once again, the Crawdads put up a big inning in the fourth to push the lead to 14 runs. Jake Guenther led off with a single and Jared Walker drew a walk. Kellen Strahm hit the team’s fourth homer of the night to score three more.

The Crawdads struck again in the sixth to make it a 17-0 game. Walker and Strahm singled to start the rally. Foscue smacked his second homerun of the evening, this one a three-run shot.

Crawdads starting pitcher Zak Kent twirled six hitless innings. He walked just one batter and struck out nine. Kent picked up the win to move to 5-2 on the year.

Reliever Nic Laio entered the game in the seventh and allowed a double to the leadoff batter to end the no-hitter bid. He allowed a two-run homerun to make the score 17-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, the ‘Dads got three more across, pushing the score to 20-2. Ornelas singled and moved to third on a double by Jake Guenther. Jared Walker recorded his third base on balls of the night to load the bases. Chavez grounded out but Ornelas was able to score on the play. Strahm doubled in Guenther and Walker for his fourth hit of the night.

Laio settled down, tossing a scoreless eighth and ninth inning.

Strahm, Foscue, and Crim (the 1-3 hitters) combined for 11 hits, 5 homeruns, 11 runs scored, and 17 RBIs. Every starter in the Crawdads lineup recorded a hit.

Tomorrow night the ‘Dads will host Nickelodeon Night ft. SpongeBob SquarePants thanks to Kicks 103.3. The team will be wearing specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off via the Live Source app and in person until the first pitch of the 7th inning. Proceeds will be donated to the ALS Foundation. It is also Catawba Science Center Night and members can get two free tickets with their membership card at the box office.