Hoppers fall in 14…

Grasshoppers Fall in 14-Inning Marathon to Hagerstown, 8-7

Greensboro, N.C. – It was the longest game by innings and time in the history of NewBridge Bank Park and three home runs, including an inside-the-park home run by Bryan Petersen, were not enough as the Greensboro Grasshoppers fell in 14 innings to the visiting Hagerstown Suns, 8-7.

The four-hour and forty-nine-minute contest saw Hagerstown jump out to a 6-0 lead through the first four-and-a-half innings before the Hoppers collected home runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to pull even with the Suns.

After Hagerstown went up one in the top of the eighth, Greensboro responded with a run in the ninth to tie the game for a second time before the two teams combined for 4.0 scoreless innings heading into the 14th inning.

On the mound, six Hopper pitchers combined to strike out 15 opposing batters as Matt Mallory suffered the loss after allowing Hagerstown’s 14th-inning run after walking the first batter he faced.

Hagerstown used seven pitchers in the match, including Trevor Lawhorn, a Suns infielder, who garnered the save by allowing just one hit in an inning of work.

Four Greensboro, five batters recorded seven at-bats and the Hoppers collected 11 hits, the most since April 14 when they had 12 hits in a 12-2 win over Asheville. Along with Petersen, Ben Lasater and Torre Langley also slugged home runs, both of theirs coming in the more traditional, over the outfield fence way.

The loss, Greensboro’s third straight, dropped the Hoppers record to 12-9.

Greensboro continues its six-game homestand Friday as the Hoppers play Game 2 of a four-game set against Hagerstown. Friday will feature the ZOOperstars! at NewBridge Bank Park followed by postgame fireworks.

RHP Cristhian Martinez (2-0, 2.35) is slated to take the mound for the Hoppers when the game gets underway at 7 p.m.; RHP Jeff Mandel (0-1, 6.41) will counter for the Suns.

*****from Justin Stottlemyre Greensboro Grasshoppers’ media assistant*****