Offense Tees Off in 8-3 Win over IronPigs

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Knights handled the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Wednesday en route to an 8-3 victory at Truist Field. Charlotte’s offense pounded out 14 hits, seven of which went for extra-bases. Meanwhile, the Charlotte pitching staff kept the IronPigs’ hitters in check throughout the evening.

Brooks Baldwin led off the bottom of the first inning in a familiar fashion. The Knights centerfielder hit his fourth Home Run to lead off a game — Baldwin has batted leadoff in 11 games with the Knights this year.

Andre Lipcius increased Charlotte’s advantage in the bottom of the second. Lipcius destroyed an Andrew Painter offering and deposited it over the left field wall for a two-run Homer. The blast gave the Knights a 3-0 lead after two.

Lehigh Valley rallied for three runs in the top of the third and tied the game 3-3. It was the only inning in the game the IronPigs pushed a run across. Charlotte answered with a Lipcius RBI single in the fourth and a Tristan Gray sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Kyle Teel, who finished 3-for-5, provided additional insurance with an RBI single in the sixth. Nick Maton joined the fray with a run-scoring double in the following frame. Then, Lipcius capped the scoring with another RBI single, his fourth run-batted-in of the contest.

Jesse Scholtens earned the win with five innings pitched. Nick Nastrini, Jairo Iriarte, and Wikelman Gonzalez combined to pitch the final four innings. Lehigh Valley was held to a total of seven hits; six singles and one double.

The six-game series is now knotted up at one game apiece. Game Three is scheduled for Thursday night at 7:04pm ET.