Hillcats Split Doubleheader with Shorebirds

Lynchburg, Virginia – Cody Farhat smoked a home run over the left field wall to give the Lynchburg Hillcats (17-16) a walk-off victory in game one and the Delmarva Shorebirds (23-10) poured on six runs in the 5th inning of game two to each take one in a twin bill at Bank of the James Stadium.

GAME ONE

• Despite the Shorebirds knocking a pair of two-baggers to lead off the first and second innings, Hillcats pitcher Sergio Morillo held Delmarva scoreless through three. It wasn’t until the top of the fourth that the Shorebirds got on the board thanks to an RBI single off the bat of TT Bowens that put Delmarva up 1-0.
• After starting the game by retiring ten straight batters the Hillcats finally tallied against Shorebirds starter Jake Lyons. With two outs, Yanier Diaz stepped up to the plate and smacked his second home run of the series over the left field wall to tie the game at one apiece.
• In the top of the fifth the Shorebirds had the go-ahead run in Andrew Martinez standing 90-feet away. After retiring two batters, Sergio Morillo was replaced by Hillcats reliever Zach Hart with a 1-0 count to Gunnar Henderson, who eventually earned a free pass. With two on, Hart locked in and forced Greg Cullen to ground out, keeping the game tied at one.
• The ‘Cats bullpen arm allowed just one hit in two and a third innings of work, holding the score at 1-1 heading in the bottom of the ninth inning.
• Delmarva reliever Griffin McLarty sent down both Andres Melendez and Hosea Nelson in order, setting up Cody Farhat as the Hillcats last hope for a victory. On a 1-0 pitch, the Texas Tech product launched his first moonshot of the year to give the Hillcats a 2-1 walk-off win in game one.

GAME TWO

• The Hillcats scored first in the third inning off Delmarva starter Brandon Young. Eric Rodriguez started the frame by drawing a walk, moving to third on a Landy Pena double. The go-ahead run came through when Yordys Valdes hit into a groundout, making it a 1-0 Lynchburg lead.
• The Hillcats added some insurance in the fourth inning when Rodriguez hit an infield single to score Will Bartlett, putting Lynchburg up two.
• The Delmarva bats exploded in the top of the fifth against two Hillcats hurlers. Jordan Jones held the Shorebirds scoreless for four frames, but after giving up three straight hits was replaced by ‘Cats reliever Andrew Misiaszek. With the score now tied at two, Hudson Haskin gave the ‘Birds their first lead of the game on an RBI single to left. TT Bowen ballooned that lead when he crushed a three run homer extending the lead to four runs.
• The Hillcats attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring another run on a Delmarva error but the comeback fell short as Lynchburg dropped game two 6-3.
• The loss means that the Hillcats have lost the series to Delmarva, with Lynchburg down 3-1 heading into Sunday’s finale.

WHO'S NEXT

The Hillcats and Shorebirds wrap up the series Sunday at 3pm from Bank of the James Stadium.