Hill, Skole Lead Suns in Doubleheader Sweep

Lakewood, NJ - The Hagerstown Suns (26-19) began a six-games-in-four-days series with the Lakewood BlueClaws (18-27) with a doubleheader sweep, winning game one, 2-0, before taking game two, 4-3, in eight innings at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, N.J., on Thursday night.

In game one, Suns starting pitcher Taylor Hill (4-3) delivered 6.1 shutout innings and struck out a career-high seven batters en-route to his fourth win of the season. Aaron Barrett (4) was called upon to record the final two outs of the game to earn his team leading fourth save.

Matt Skole's RBI double in the fourth inning proved to be the game-winner and drove in his club-high 44th RBI of the season. Later in the inning, Caleb Ramsey added an RBI sac-fly, his 28th RBI of the season and 8th in his last five games.

BlueClaws starter Ethan Stewart (0-5) suffered the loss despite allowing just two runs on four hits in a complete game effort.

After falling behind 2-0 early in game two, the Suns rallied to take the lead, 3-2, in the sixth inning with a Jason Martinson two-run triple and another go-ahead RBI hit from Skole. Lakewood's Brian Pointer tied the game in the seventh inning with a solo home run, but the Suns bounced back in the eighth inning. Cutter Dykstra singled and then stole second and third base, and was eventually knocked in by Skole's second game-winning hit of the day. Skole finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBIs to bring his season total to 46.

Game two starter Pedro Encarnacion did not factor in the decision, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two strike outs. Reliever Colin Bates earned the win in his Suns debut, allowing one run in the final two innings of the game. BlueClaws reliever Colton Murray (1-2) took the loss.

The Suns will send LHP Kylin Turnbull (1-3) to the mound against Lakewood's RHP Colin Kleven (3-3) in game three of the series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.

Throughout the month of May all kids' seats, ages 13 and under, are just $5.00! Suns individual game tickets, season tickets, mini-plans, and group packages are on sale now. For more information and to reserve your seat at Municipal Stadium, call 301-791-6266, or www.hagerstownsuns.com. The Hagerstown Suns are owned by Hagerstown Baseball, LLC.