Diaz and Marte Power Hawks

South Bend, IN - The South Bend Silver Hawks defeated the Clinton LumberKings 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at Coveleski Stadium. With the win the Hawks move over .500 for the first time in nearly two weeks as they improve to 24-23 on the year.

The Silver Hawks jumped on LumberKings starter Alfredo Venegas (LP, 0-2) for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Brendan Duffy started the rally with a single and Reynaldo Navarro followed with a walk. One out later, Alberto Diaz lifted a homer over the left field wall for the 3-0 lead. It was Diaz's team leading sixth homer of the season, and vaulted him into first place on the team with 26 RBI.

That lead didn't last long however, as his teammate Alfredo Marte retook the lead with a two-run double in the bottom of the second. Isaias Asencio singled to start the inning, stretching his hitting streak to 11 games. Victor Estevez then reached on an error, putting two runners on base with nobody out. After two strike outs, Marte's double brought in both runners for the 5-0 lead. Marte now has 27 RBI, one better than his teammate Diaz.

That's all the runs the Silver Hawks would need as Sean Morgan (WP, 2-1) and the bullpen did not allow an earned run for the second game in a row. Morgan struck out a personal high six batters in 5.0 innings, allowing just one unearned run.

Bayron Zepeda (ND) pitched two scoreless innings in relief, while Houston Summers (ND) and Yonata Ortega (ND) added an inning each.

The lone run for Clinton scored in the top of the third against Morgan, charged as unearned. Ogui Diaz doubled to start the inning, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on a groundout from Terry Serrano. Even though officially a passed ball is not an error, it is still an unearned run to Morgan since the run would not have scored without the catcher's miscue.

The series wraps up Sunday afternoon with a 2:00 PM Eastern Time start. LHP Wade Miley (2-3, 3.61 ERA) will toe the rubber for South Bend, while Clinton hands the ball to LHP Bobby LaFromboise (2-1, 2.97 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 1:40 PM Eastern Time on 1620 ESPN Radio and online at www.silverhawks.com. Fans are encouraged to come out to Coveleski Stadium for the free Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest which takes place on the plaza beginning at 11:00 AM.