Long Balls Bury 'Dads in 10-1 Defeat

Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads and Columbia Fireflies appeared to be in a pitcher's duel through the first two-thirds of the game Wednesday night before the contest pivoted on a pair of big home runs, as the Fireflies used a grand slam and a 3-run blast to pull away late and hand the 'Dads a 10-1 loss at L.P. Frans Stadium.

The two teams entered the 7^th inning locked in a 1-1 tie, with a 1^st inning, RBI single from Josh Altmann providing the Crawdads' run while a 3^rd inning, RBI sacrifice fly from David Thompson plated the Fireflies' tally. The low-scoring contest was broken open in the 7^th however when Columbia plated 6 runs on 4 hits, highlighted by a grand slam from catcher Patrick Mazeika. Columbia picked up a 3-run homer by Jeff Diehl two innings later to finish off the 10-1 score.

The game began with the 'Dads looking like they might pull away early, as Eric Jenkins led off the 1^st inning with a bunt single, Frandy De La Rosa walked, and Altmann delivered an RBI single to left for a 1-0 Hickory lead. Dylan Moore then followed with a bunt single of his own to load the bases for the Crawdads with nobody out. Fireflies starting pitcher Chase Ingram was able to work his way out of the jam with no further damage however, with a strikeout of Ricky Valencia, a fielder's choice out at the plate off the bat of Eduard Pinto, and a swinging strikeout from Yeyson Yrizarri to strand three runners on base.

Columbia tied the score two innings later, when J.C Rodriguez tripled to right off of 'Dads starting pitcher Matt Ball before coming in to score on an RBI sacrifice fly from Thompson for a 1-1 game. The score would remain the same for the next 3 frames, as Ball allowed 1 run on 6 hits over his 5 innings pitched while Ingram countered with 1 run allowed on 4 hits during his 5 IP.

Hickory turned to the bullpen beginning in the 6^th, when reliever Adam Choplick was able to work around a pair of walks for a scoreless inning. The tall lefthander then began the 7^th with a strikeout of Enmanual Zabala before the next 6 batters would safely reach to power the Fireflies' 6-run rally. Rodriguez began the surge with a single, followed by a walk to Kevin Kaczmarski and an RBI base knock from Thompson for a 2-1 Columbia lead. Following a walk by Choplick to pinch-hitter Tyler Moore the Crawdads brought in right-handed hurler John Werner, who then allowed an RBI single from Diehl before Mazeika lined a grand slam over the right field fence to cap the big inning.

Two frames later the Fireflies got to Warner again, with a single from Thompson, a fielding error by Altmann at first base that allowed Moore to reach, and a 3-run homer to right off the bat of Diehl to give Columbia the 10-1 lead they would win by.

Choplick (2-1) took the loss for Hickory after allowing 4 runs on 2 hits, 4 walks, and 2 strikeouts over 1.1 innings pitched. Fireflies reliever Witt Haggard earned the win with 3 scoreless innings of relief on 1 hit, 1 walk, and 3 Ks.

Moore paced the 'Dads offensive attack on the night with a 1-2 game including 2 walks and 2 stolen bases, while Altmann finished the game 1-4 with an RBI and Jenkins went 1-4 with a steal and a run scored.

The Crawdads (2-5/40-37) will now welcome the Kannapolis Intimidators to town for a 4-game series beginning Thursday night at 7:00 pm.

 

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