Spain's Hot Bat Fries Catfish 7-5
Hickory took a 3-0 lead before Columbus scored in four consecutive innings. However, a three-run 7th for the Crawdads, highlighted by Spain's two-run double, led the 'Dads to the win.
After Hickory failed to score despite loading the bases in the first, the Crawdads got on the board in the second against Catfish starter Glenn Gibson on Spain's second home run of the season to take a 1-0 lead.
In the 4th inning, Hickory added two more runs to its lead. The Crawdads led off the inning with consecutive singles by Spain, Tom Hagan, and a bunt single by Silvio Pena. The runners advanced on a wild pitch by Gibson, with Spain scoring. Jose De Los Santos then reached on a grounder wide of first, as the pitcher Gibson failed to cover first base, scoring Hagan on the play.
Hickory starter Zac Oliver shut down the Catfish lineup through the first three innings before running into trouble in the 4th. Shawn O'Malley and Maiko Loyola opened the inning with back-to-back singles to center. After a fielder's choice, O'Malley scored on a sacrifice fly by Reid Fronk, making the score 2-1.
Columbus got to within a run in the 5th inning. Stephen Vogt led off the inning with a single. The next batter, Henry Wrigley, reached on a Jose De Los Santos error. Following a sacrifice bunt by Omar Luna to advance the runners, Emeel Salem reached on an infield hit, scoring Vogt.
The Crawdads got the run back off Catfish reliever Chris Fessler as Hagan hit a solo homer to right, also his second of the season.
However, the Catfish came back with their third consecutive run-scoring inning, this time off recently returned pitcher Matt McSwain. Greg Sexton led off with a lined single to center. Two outs later, Vogt singled to center followed by run scoring single from Wrigley, making the score 4-3, Crawdads.
Hickory regained a cushioned margin with a three-run seventh inning. Austin McClune worked a walk to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a Miles Durham single. McClune then scored on an Eric Huber single with Durham moving to second. After Marcus Davis struck out, Andrew Walker broke out of his slump with a lined single to left. However, Durham was thrown out at the plate, leaving runners at first and second with two outs. Columbus then brought in Jose Mejias to face the hot-hitting Spain. Spain responded with a double to the corner in left, scoring both runners for a 7-3 lead.
Columbus looked to get back into the game in the 7th inning with the help of the Hickory defense and wildness on the mound. Salem led off with a single against Crawdads reliever Michael Felix and advanced to second on a Felix wild pitch. Felix proceeded to walk O'Malley before Loyola reached on a Silvio Pena error, loading the bases. Salem scored the first run of the inning on a sac fly by Fronk. The runners then moved up on a double steal. Felix got the second out of the inning by striking out Mike McCormick, but then loaded the bases again by walking Vogt. Manager Gary Green then brought in reliever Tom Boleska to get Hickory out of the inning. Boleska responded to the challenge by inducing Wrigley to ground out to short, ending the inning.
Columbus would not threaten again as Boleska retired the side in order in the final two innings to give Hickory the 7-5 win.
For his efforts, Boleska picked up his second save of the season. Both saves have come in the last two Hickory wins, the previous coming on May 8.
Oliver (1-1) picked up his first win for Hickory, while Gibson (1-5) took the loss.
The two teams continue their series Wednesday night at 7 at Golden Park on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Dustin Molleken (3-2, 3.96), on the heels of six hitless innings in his previous start, will face Catfish pitcher Josh Johnson (1-3, 5.03).
The game will be broadcast live on 92.1 FM WMNC and on the internet at www.hickorycrawdads.com with Mike Janela on the play-by-play.