Three-run seventh pulls Pelicans to series-opening win

FREDERICK, Md. (May 19, 2018) - A three-run seventh inning Saturday lifted the Myrtle Beach Pelicans by the Frederick Keys 4-3 at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Myrtle Beach (17-24) trailed 3-1 when Tyler Alamo reached on a Frederick (16-24) error to begin the seventh inning. Kevonte Mitchell then bashed a two-run home run to pull the Birds into a 3-3 tie with the Keys.

Frederick went to their bullpen to call on Tyler Erwin (0-2). The southpaw retired the first batter he faced before yielding a single to Connor Myers , who went 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch. An error put runners on first and second before Myers tagged up to third on a fly ball to right. Erwin uncorked a wild pitch that brought in Myers to score to put the Pelicans ahead 4-3.
Birds starter Matt Swarmer (4-2) retired eight of the last nine batters he faced, surrendering three runs on six hits in seven innings to earn the win. He struck out four and walked two. Wyatt Short pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Tyler Peyton did the same in the ninth to earn his second save.
The Keys initially got on the board in their first at-bats against Swarmer. Ryan McKenna, Cole Billingsley and Preston Palmeiro each singled to start the first, with the last knock bringing in a run. A double play plated Billingsley to make ti 2-0 Frederick. Billingsley later popped a solo homer in the third to push the advantage to 3-0.
Keys starter Cristian Alvarado held the Pelicans hitless for 4.1 frames before ceding a base knock to Alamo with one in the fifth. Two batters later, Daniel Spingola singled before Myers ripped an RBI base hit to get the Birds on the board at 3-1.
Myrtle Beach wraps up their three-game set with Frederick with Sunday's doubleheader, which begins at noon and features two seven-inning contests. RHP Keegan Thompson (1-2, 3.47 ERA) pitches for the Pelicans in game one against Keys RHP Michael Baumann (0-0, 0.00 ERA). LHP Jose Paulino (0-5, 8.64 ERA) is scheduled to start the finale. Coverage begins at 11:45 a.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app. 
The 2018 season is the 20th season for the Pelicans franchise and fourth as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For tickets visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/tickets, call (843) 918-6000, or visit the Pelicans Box Office.
ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in six of the last seven seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences and the best in the Carolina League for six of the past seven seasons as well. In June 2017, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2017 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans have won four Mills Cup Championships, including claims to back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, and again in 2015 and 2016. The Pelicans have made 11 postseason appearances behind 13 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, second half of 2016 and first half of 2017. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].