Hoppers shoot down Orioles(Shorebirds) in game number two

Jacobs, Ontiveros Homer in Hoppers’ Split
Greensboro Shuts Out Delmarva in Second Game of Sunday’s Double-Header

Salisbury, Md. – Emilio Ontiveros hit his first career home run in the second game of Sunday’s double-header against Delmarva; Justin Jacobs also sent one out of the park as the Hoppers took game two, 4-0, after falling 10-2 in game one.

Jacobs started the scoring with a leadoff home run in the third inning. His shot to left field proved to be all the Hoppers would need as Matt Mallory and A.J. Battisto combined to toss seven scoreless innings while striking out as many batters.

Greensboro plated another run in the fourth inning before Ontiveros slugged his first career home run, a two-run blast to left field, to put the Hoppers up by a final score of 4-0.

After allowing three hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, Mallory gave the ball and two runners to Battisto. Battisto quickly quieted the Shorebirds by getting Ryan Adam to ground out to end the inning.

Jacobs finished the second game going 3-for-3 from the plate with two-runs scored while Ontiveros was 2-for-4 with two RBI; Ryan Curry also collected two hits for manager Edwin Rodriguez’s squad, going 2-for-3 and scoring a run.

The second-game win earned the Hoppers as split as the struggled late in game one, allowing seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning en route to a 10-2 loss.

Delmarva took an early 2-0 after the third inning and tacked on another run in fourth to make it a three-run game, but the Hoppers were unwilling to give in. Greensboro collected three of its five hits in the top half of the sixth and plated both their runs before leaving two runners stranded in scoring position.

The Shorebirds quickly regained their three run lead and added another five runs for a seven-run sixth inning that put the game out of reach for the Hoppers.

Tom Hickman drove in one of Greensboro’s two runs in the first game and finished 3-for-3 at the plate to match a career-high for hits in a game.

Left-handed pitcher Jay Voss to the loss in his first appearance of the season after allowing three runs on five hits in three innings of work. Voss, who was transferred from the disabled list to Greensboro’s active roster prior to the game, struck out two batters in his 2008 debut and left the game after taking a ball to the shin during the fourth inning.

Greensboro will try for the series split as they return to action Monday in the series finale against Delmarva. First pitch is slated for 10:35 a.m.

Game One Postgame Quick Stats
Win – Luis Noel (3-1); Loss – Jay Voss (0-1); Save – Brett Bordes (1)
Time – 2:19; Attendance – n/a

Game Two Postgame Quick Stats
Win – A.J. Battisto (3-0); Loss – Aaron Odom (1-2); Save – None
Time – 1:48; Attendance – 1,793