Bierfeldt's Homer, Urban's Terrific Start Lead Aberdeen to 1-0 Win

ABERDEEN, MD -- Conor Bierfeldt's second inning solo blast was all the IronBird's pitching staff needed to secure a crucial win over Hudson Valley Thursday night.

Bierfeldt took Renegades starter took Jaime Schultz deep, turning on a 94 MPH fastball and lining it over the 378 sign in left center field. It was Bierfeldt's 11th dinger of the season, creating a three-way tie atop the New York-Penn League home run leaderboard. Williamsport's Zach Green and Tri-Cities' Michael Martinez each have hit 11 homers this season.

Austin Urban, Jimmy Yacabonis and Donnie Hart made the lone run stand for the IronBirds win.
It is just their second win of the season in games in which they scored one run, both coming against the Renegades. It was the team's fifth shutout of the season.

Urban gave Aberdeen a great start, pitching six innings of scoreless ball. He gave up six hits and struck out three while issuing no walks. He used two double-plays to help him face the minimum in the third, fourth and fifth innings. He worked out of a two-out, two-on jam in the sixth inning. It was Urban's strongest outing of the season and it couldn't have come at a better time, as he took his record to 2-5 on the season.

Yacabonis and Hart pitched three innings in relief to shut the door for Aberdeen. Yacabonis worked around a lead-off walk and a single to start the seventh, retiring the next three Renegades hitters to maintain the lead. He pitched a three up, three down eighth and gave way to Hart to close the game.

Hart picked up his fourth save of the season, just three hitters thanks to a sparkling three-six-three double, started by first baseman Trey Mancini to end the game.

Aberdeen (35-31) remains a half game behind the Brooklyn Cyclones atop the McNamara Division. The Cyclones edged Staten Island 2-1 in Brooklyn.

The IronBirds will send Dylan Rheault to the mound on Friday in the final game of the season with Hudson Valley. Chris Kirsch will get the nod for the Renegades. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.