from Justin Stottlemyre-Greensboro Grasshoppers media assistant
Greensboro, N.C. – Ryan Anetsberger provided a two-hit performance at the place for the third time in just five games this season as Greensboro dropped its 2008 home-opener to the Hickory Crawdads, 7-2, in front of 5,925 Monday at NewBridge Bank Park.
Anetsberger drove in the game’s first run in the bottom of the first, plating Bryan Petersen on a double to right field. The lead lasted just two innings until the third inning when Hickory evened the score at one. Hickory continued to put runs on the board with a three-run fifth and a two-run sixth en route to a 7-2 victory.
Greensboro’s last run of the game was scored in the fifth inning when Hunter Mense doubled to center field to score Ben Lasater. Along with Anetsberger, Mike Stanton also collected two hits at the plate with a double in the sixth inning and a triple in the eighth. Stanton’s triple was the first for the Grasshoppers this season.
On the mound, Greensboro’s pitching staff combined to strike out seven batters, but still suffered the loss as Colby Miller (0-1) allowed four runs, three earned, in 5.0 innings of work in which he gave up six hits and struck out five batters. Hickory’s Rafael De Los Santos (1-0) also pitched 5.0 innings to pick up his first victory of the season as the Crawdads improved to 4-1.
The loss dropped Greensboro to 3-2 on the season and to 2-2 in home openers.
Greensboro will play Game 2 of its current four-game series Tuesday against the Hickory Crawdads at 7 p.m. For ticket information, please contact the Grasshoppers Box Office at 336.268.2255 or online at www.gsohoppers.com.