Dash Lose Late in Hickory, 7-6

HICKORY, NC (September 6th, 2023) - The Winston-Salem Dash saw a lead slip away late against the Hickory Crawdads, losing 7-6 Wednesday night at LP Frans Stadium.

Winston-Salem (60-63) came out firing in the top of the first. Dash leadoff man, Loidel Chapelli, blasted his tenth homer of the year to right center giving the visitors an early 1-0 advantage. The Dash added to their advantage in the second with another leadoff homer from Chris Lanzilli giving Winston-Salem the 2-0 lead.

Hickory (67-55) was stifled over the first two frames by Dash starter Connor McCullough before the Crawdads drew even in the third. After a leadoff walk, Alejandro Osuna hit a two-run homer tying the game, but the lead didn't last.

In the fourth, the Dash put two runners in scoring position with one out and Brooks Baldwin singled regaining the lead making it 3-2. Another run came home to score on a sacrifice fly to double up the Crawdads, 4-2. Hickory did not go away. The Crawdads got a run in the fifth and tied the game at four in the seventh.

After seeing the lead disappear, Winston-Salem came firing back. The Dash loaded the bases quickly. With nowhere to put a runner, Colby Smelley drew a walk, and next batter Mario Camilletti brought home another run giving the Dash another two-run lead, 6-4.

In the bottom of the eighth though, Hickory rallied. Daniel Mateo doubled while Sebastian Walcott walked bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. With one out, Benjamin Blackwell gave the Crawdads the lead with one swing of the bat, hitting a homer to right, and giving the Crawdads a 7-6 lead. In the ninth, the Dash couldn't find an answer as they fell to the Crawdads, 7-6.

Winston-Salem and Hickory meet for game three on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. from LP Frans Stadium.