Wall Caps Comeback With Walk-Off Hit

ASHEVILLE, NC--Forrest Wall's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday afternoon capped one of the most exciting Asheville Tourists wins of the season. Trailing the Rome Braves 8-5 heading to their final turn at the plate and staring at the possibility of being swept, Asheville rallied to score four runs without a single out being recorded. Despite the nine-inning affair lasting nearly four hours, the Tourists were happy to come away with a 9-8 victory.

With the Tourists out in front 3-1 after four, the Braves rallied for a run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Asheville bounced back in the bottom of the sixth when Drew Weeks doubled home Max White. Once the seventh inning began, it was clear Rome was not going away. Joseph Daris led off with a Home Run. Braxton Davidson then put the visitors in front with an RBI single. The next batter, Codey McElroy, doubled in a pair and Asheville faced a 7-4 deficit.

Rome tacked on another in the eighth but Asheville stayed the course. Josh Fuentes delivered with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the eighth. After Josh Michalec's scoreless ninth, it was time to set the stage. Wes Rogers led off Asheville's half of the ninth with a walk. Emerson Jimenez and White followed with back-to-back singles which loaded the bases. Shane Hoelscher promptly singled in two. After an intentional walk to Weeks, Fuentes tied the game when he reached on an error.

The following batter, Wall, hit a bouncing ball over J.J. Franco's head at second base and Hoelscher came in to score the winning run. Hoelscher, playing in his first game of the season with Asheville, finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. He also worked two walks. Weeks finished with three hits as well; two of which were doubles.

The Tourists worked a season-high 11 walks and matched a season-high with nine runs scored. The final run total could have been a bit higher, but 17 Tourists base-runners were left on throughout the game. The two teams combined to throw 11 pitchers.

Asheville will welcome Kannapolis to McCormick Field to begin a three game series beginning Monday evening. The first pitch is at 7:05pm.