Freeman Homers in 4-Hit Night but ‘Dads Fall

Hickory, NC- The Crawdads lost 10-6 to the Rome Braves on Saturday night as their ninth inning comeback couldn’t close the gap after allowing early runs.

Rome jumped on Crawdads starter Larson Kindreich for three runs (two earned) in the first inning. They scored five more in the second, with the last being charged to reliever Florencio Serrano.

Cody Freeman got the Crawdads offense going in the bottom of the second with a solo homerun, his fifth of the year. The homer was the Crawdads’ first run since the fourth inning of Thursday’s game.

The Crawdads put another dent in Rome’s lead in the fifth with two runs. Jayce Easley singled and Yenci Peña drew a walk to start off the inning. Griffin Cheney grounded out but advanced both runners. Daniel Mateo hit a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Easley to tag up and score and Peña to take third. Alejandro Osuna delivered a single to bring in the second run and make it an 8-3 ballgame.

Rome scored a run in the seventh and one on the ninth to pull ahead 10-3.

The ‘Dads mounted a rally in the ninth, managing to get three runs across. The first two batters of the inning were retired but Osuna got something going with two outs as he singled, and Josh Hatcher followed up with a base hit of his own. Max Acosta singled to center, bringing in the two runners and taking third on an error by the centerfielder. Freeman came up with his fourth hit of the night to drive in Acosta. Geisel Cepeda collect the Crawdads fifth straight hit to put two runners on and bring the tying run to the on-deck circle. Rome brought in a new pitcher who got Easley to fly out to end the game.

The series against Rome will wrap up tomorrow with Church Bulletin Sunday by Catawba Shoe Store.