Crawdads Drop Sloppy Game to Augusta

The Hickory Crawdads, one night after a devastating 9th inning loss to Asheville, came out flat and dropped the opening game of a four game series to Augusta 9-4 Tuesday night in Augusta. The Crawdads defensive woes continued as they committed three more errors --- making it nine combined in the last two games. Crawdad pitching also combined for three wild pitches in the contest.

Augusta jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, aided by the first Crawdad error of the night. With one out, Greenjacket SS Eugenio Velez singled to right, then stole second. Augusta 1B Pablo Sandoval reached on an errant throw to first by Cameron Blair, scoring Velez and moving Sandoval to second. Designated hitter Michael Mooney reached on an infield single, moving Sandoval to third. Sandoval would score on a sacrifice fly by Augusta catcher Barry Gunther.

The Greenjackets added a run in the second off Crawdad starter Todd Redmond in the second inning, again aided by 2 Crawdad errors. Augusta 3B David Maroul led off the inning with a sharp single to left field. Maroul advanced to second on a ground out. Leftfielder Brent Copeland reached on an error by first baseman Steve Pearce leaving runners at first and third. With Eugenio Velez batting, Copeland took off for second base. Steve Pearce's throw to second was wild allowing Maroul to score from 3rd making it 3-0 'Jackets.

Hickory pulled to within a run in the fourth inning. Second baseman Cameron Blair led off with a walk off Augusta starter Ken Ray. Andrew McCutchen followed with a single to left. Blair moved to third on a Brad Corley fly out, then McCutchen stole second leaving runners at second and third. Jason Delaney drove in both Crawdad runners with a double to the left field wall making the score 3-2.

Augusta would gain a cushion with a run in the fifth. Augusta CF Antoan Richardson led off with a single and stole second. He would score later in the inning on a ground out by Pablo Sandoval.

The Greenjackets put the game away in the 8th inning with a five run outburst, highlighted by a two- run triple by SS Eugenio Velez.

Crawdad catcher Steve Lerud finalized the scoring in the ninth with a two-run home run making the final score 9-4.

The winning pitcher for Augusta was Ken Ray (4-2). Ray gave up two runs, four hits; striking out seven and walking only one in six innings.

Todd Redmond (4-3) took the loss for Hickory as he gave up four runs, only two of which were earned. Redmond struck out seven on his five innings of work. Dave Davidson pitched two scoreless innings for Hickory allowing only a walk and a single.

The Crawdads and Greenjeckets return to action Wednesday night at 7pm at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta.