Thompson Delivers Four-Hit, Four-RBI Performance in Win Versus Myrtle Beach

The Lynchburg Hillcats unleashed a flurry on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, downing them 12-4 on Friday evening.

Bennett Thompson delivered a four-hit, four-RBI performance, setting the tone for the evening. Lynchburg would also receive strong pitching performances from Braylon Doughty, Eudry Alcantara, and Sean Matson.

Despite the Hillcats onslaught early in the game, it was the Pelicans who struck first to open the evening. Jose Escobar doubled on a line drive, plating Ty Southisene. Later in the frame, Cameron Sisneros drove him home on a single of his own.

The 2-0 Pelican lead would not last long as the Hillcats would respond in the bottom of the frame. After the first two runners would reach to open the inning, they each would score. Jose Pirela would plate Tommy Hawke on a single before Welbyn Francisca was brought home on a sacrifice fly from Bennett Thompson, tying the game at two.

From there, the floodgates would open. Hawke would double home two runners early in the second inning. A few batters later, Thompson would pick up an infield single, which scored Hawke. In the ensuing chaos, the first baseman would fire home to tag the trailing runner, Luis Merejo, to end the frame.

Lynchburg led 5-2 heading to the third, when Logun Clark was drilled to open the inning. Garrett Howe would get in on the action and drive him home with a triple. At this point, every Hillcat in the lineup reached base.

The troubles for the Pelicans continued throughout the third as Robert Lopez would plate a run on a single to right field. Welbyn Francisca would follow suit on a sharp grounder of his own, which found the outfield, bringing two runs home.

In a rare moment, the third inning would end the exact same as the second inning. Thompson mashed a grounder to second, which he beat out for an infield hit in addition to scoring a run. Amidst the play, the trailing runner, once again Merejo, would try and score and be retired after being tagged at the dish.

Therefore, both innings ended on an infield single from Bennett Thompson, followed by a 4-3-2 putout.

The game would go quiet until the top of the seventh inning when the Pelicans would get back on the board. A single by Anderson Suriel and a walk to Southisene that plated two.

Lynchburg would shut the door in the eighth inning as Welbyn Francisca and Luis Merejo would deliver back-to-back triples to extend the lead once more. Bennett Thompson would cap off his big night with his fourth RBI on a single up the middle.

Lynchburg will look to secure the series win on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Bank of the James Stadium.