Wahoos Snap Skid, Split Twin Bill with Smokies

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Blue Wahoos snapped their six-game losing streak with a 7-5 win over the Smokies on Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium in the second of a doubleheader after dropping the first 5-4.
With the Wahoos down 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth of game two, Brian O'Grady hit a two-run double to cut the Smokies lead to 5-3. Nick Longhi then came to the plate and hit a two-run single to tie the game. C.J. McElroy broke the Smokies backs with another two-run double to give the Wahoos their first lead of the series at 7-5.
The story for the Wahoos during the six-game losing streak was the team's inability to score runs. However, the Wahoos found their confidence scoring late in the first game that repeated itself in the second.
In the bottom of the ninth of game one, with the Blue Wahoos down 5-1, Pensacola hit three home runs to tie the game at four. Taylor Sparks hit a two-run shot to cut the deficit down to 4-2 before C.J. McElroy and Shed Long belted back-to-back home runs of their own.
However, the Smokies won Wednesday's suspended game off Trey Martin's 11^th inning RBI single to give the Smokies a 5-4 victory in the series opener.
In game three of the series, left-handed pitcher Seth Varner (1-0, 4.19) will make his first career Double-A start for the Wahoos. One of the top prospects in the Cubs minor league system, RHP Thomas Hatch (4-2, 3.06) will take the hill and try to give the Smokies a 2-1 lead. Coverage of tomorrow's game can be found on the radio at 97.1 The Ticket, 1490 AM Milton, and www.bluewahoos.com while the televised broadcast can be seen on BlabTV. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.