Power Use Seven Run Sixth to Beat Greensboro
The Grasshoppers scored first in the top of the second when Joel Staples scored on a wild pitch. West Virginia tied the game quickly in the next half inning when Andrew Walker scored on Bobby Spain's sacrifice fly. Ben Lasater gave the Grasshoppers their second and final lead of the game when he belted a solo homerun in the sixth inning, his second of the series to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
West Virginia's big sixth inning started with five straight singles. Walker's base hit plated the tying run and Calvin Anderson's base knock scored the go-ahead run. Spain reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Chase D'Arnaud to score before Edward Garcia's RBI single to right field. Kevin Mattison's error in right on Garcia's single allowed a second run as well. Adenson Chourio's squeeze bunt brought in Garcia and Robbie Grossman's second single of the inning plated the seventh and final run of the frame. Justin Bass hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to bring in the game's final runs.
Rudy Owens (2-0) pitched six solid innings to earn the victory. He allowed just a pair of runs on three hits and fanned four. Stuart Alexander (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits over a third of an inning.
West Virginia improved to 6-12 with the victory and the Grasshoppers fell to 9-9 after the loss. Four Power players turned in multi-hit games, including Calvin Anderson who paced the Power with a 3-for-4 performance. Robbie Grossman went 2-for-4 and has reached in nine straight games. The 12 hits were a season best for the Power.
West Virginia is off on Monday but will continue the four game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Newbridge Bank BallPark on Tuesday evening. Left hander Brad Hand (0-2, 18.00) will start for Greensboro and the Power will counter with right hander Maurice Bankston (0-2, 5.52). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
For tickets and information call the Power Front Office at 304-344-BATS.