Crawdads Lose a Heartbreaker

Bidding for their first win of the 2006 season, the Hickory Crawdads went to the ninth inning Saturday night at LP Frans Stadium with a 1-0 lead. With one out and nobody on in the top of the ninth Crawdad right hander Kyle Pearson allowed a solo home run to Lake County 1B Fernando Pacheco. In the eleventh inning, Pacheco's two out RBI single off of Crawdad reliever Jake Cuffman scored SS Niuman Romero to help lift the Captains to a 2-1 win.

Crawdad starter Luis Munoz worked five shutout innings allowing just four hits while striking out three. Pearson relieved Munoz to begin the sixth inning and pitched three scoreless innings before allowing the ninth inning dinger. Pearson allowed one run on four hits in five frames.

The 'Dads got on the board in the sixth inning on 3B Tony Mansolino's first homer of the year. The homerun came off of Lake County starter Ryan Edell. The southpaw allowed just the lone run and a pair of hits while striking out five in six innings.

Hickory RF Brad Corley tallied three hits in the game. Corley also assisted on one of two Crawdad outfield assists, throwing out 2B Matt Fornasiere when he tried to score from second base on a third inning single by Romero. Hickory LF Wanell Macia threw out Captain RF Juan Valdez at the plate when he tried to score from first base on a tenth inning double by Lake County LF Jose Constanza.

Trailing 2-1 in the eleventh the Crawdads faced Lake County reliever Julio Pinto. After a one out infield single by Hickory CF Andrew McCutchen, Corley doubled but McCutchen got caught in a rundown between third base and home plate. The 'Dads ended up with both McCutchen and Corley at third base. Corley was ruled out. With two outs and a runner at third, 1B Steve Pearce struck out to end the game.

Dustin Roddy pitched two innings of scoreless, two hit ball to earn the win. Cuffman allowed one run on two hits to take the loss. Pinto allowed two hits and no runs to earn his first save.

The final game of the four game series is Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Hickory righty Todd Redmond faces Lake County right hander Albert Vargas.