Pelicans take series over Lynchburg behind Swarmer, late runs

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 24, 2018) - Matt Swarmer tossed six solid innings for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Thursday night from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark to propel the Pelicans to a 4-3 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats. 
Though Swarmer was handed a no-decision for the Pelicans (20-27), the right-hander struck out seven while not walking a batter over his six innings of work. He only ceded one unearned run on three hits, but it was the bullpen that allowed the Hillcats (23-21) to crawl back into the game.

With the Birds leading 3-1 in the eighth, Lynchburg scored two runs off of Wyatt Short (1-1) on a Jodd Carter RBI triple and a Conner Capel RBI single to tie the game. 
Myrtle Beach nabbed the lead right back in the bottom half of the eighth inning when Daniel Spingola crossed home on a passed ball and Short was handed the win despite the blown save. Jhon Romero struck out three in the ninth to seal his third save.
Dalbert Siri (1-2) walked three in the eighth inning before the passed ball in his loss. 
In the first inning, the Pelicans drew first blood when P.J. Higgins bounced into a fielder's choice to score Andruw Monasterio. 
After the Hillcats tied it up with Carter fielder's choice, the Birds took the lead with two runs in the sixth inning. Luis Ayala laid down a bunt single, that, coupled with a throwing error allowed Spingola to score the go-ahead run. Aramis Ademan , who finished 3-for-3 on the night and reached four times, then doubled home Ayala to give the Pelicans a 3-1 lead.
The win secured a 3-1 series victory for the Pelicans; it was their first series win since taking two of three against Carolina Carolina from May 1 through 3. 
The Birds hit the road to start a four-game series against the Carolina Mudcats with Thursday's 7 p.m.contest. RHP Bailey Clark  (1-1, 2.89 ERA) pitches against Carolina RHP Marcos Diplan (1-2, 3.98 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.
The 2018 season is the 20th season for the Pelicans franchise and fourth as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For tickets visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/tickets, call (843) 918-6000, or visit the Pelicans Box Office.
ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in six of the last seven seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences and the best in the Carolina League for six of the past seven seasons as well. In June 2017, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2017 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans have won four Mills Cup Championships, including claims to back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, and again in 2015 and 2016. The Pelicans have made 11 postseason appearances behind 13 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, second half of 2016 and first half of 2017. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].