Lane blanks BlueClaws over 6 and 2/3

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Aug. 26, 2012) -- Kannapolis Intimidators starter Matt Lane shut out the Lakewood BlueClaws over 6 and 2/3 innings en route to a 4-0 win on Sunday at FirstEnergy Park to force a series split.

Lane (4-5) earned the win, allowing four hits and a walking while striking out five. He has now worked at least 6.0 innings in his last six starts.

The BlueClaws put two runners on base with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Dustin Umberger came in to retire the next three batter to end the game, recording the save (4).

With two outs in the fifth inning and Kannapolis up 1-0, Courtney Hawkins ripped the first offering from reliever Moises Rivas over the wall in left field. Hawkins, the White Sox first round pick this June, now has three home runs with Kannapolis and six since signing with the White Sox this summer. He added a sac-fly in the ninth inning, giving him 12 RBI in 15 games with the Intimidators.

Lakewood starter Gabriel Arias took the loss, allowing an unearned run on four hits over 4.0 innings while striking out five and walking one.

Grant Buckner and Michael Marjama each recored three hits on the day, and Buckner crossed the plate twice on Leighton Pangilinan RBI-groundouts in the fourth and sixth innings.

The Intimidators wrap up this 4-game series against the BlueClaws on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. at FirstEnergy Park as LHP Matt Lane (3-5, 5.00) faces Lakewood's RHP Gabriel Arias (4-8, 3.82). The Intimidators return to CMC-NorthEast Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 28, to face the Greenville Drive to open the final home stand of the season. For ticket information, call the box office at (704) 932-3267 or visit www.IntimidatorsBaseball.com.