Power Surge Carries Hillcats Over RiverDogs

The power bug bit the Lynchburg Hillcats on Wednesday evening to down the Charleston RiverDogs, 7-4.

The Hillcats only racked up three hits, but all three came on extra base knocks, including two home runs. Despite the lack of hits, Lynchburg found base runners scattered throughout the evening. On the mound, Rafe Schlesinger earned his first win of the season, throwing five innings of one-run baseball.

For the second straight game, the Hillcats would strike first, putting a run on the board in the second inning. Jose Pirela found the corner for his sixth double of the game, driving home Ryan Cesarini.

In the fourth, Charleston tied things up after loading up the bases. Narciso Polanco would score Connor Hujsak with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The game would not remain tied for long, as Bennett Thompson would get aboard after a walk. He would advance to second on a wild pitch before scoring after two-straight batters struck out on a dropped third strike.

Jeffrey Mercedes was the hero on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday, he would appear again for an encore. After Lynchburg loaded the bases in the sixth inning, Mercedes deposited a grand slam off the scoreboard, putting the Hillcats up 6-1.

As if not to be left out on the fun, Luis Merejo would answer in the seventh inning with a solo blast of his own. His left field shot left the ballpark at 110 mph and sailed nearly 400 feet.

Charleston would not go quietly in the eighth. Jack Lines would hit his first homer of the season, a three-run shot, to right field, cutting the score to 7-4.

However, Sean Matson would enter for the ninth. Despite surrendering two-base runners and bringing the tying run to the plate, Matson would shut the door for his second save of the campaign.

Lynchburg will look to guarantee a split of the series with Charleston on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at Bank of the James Stadium.