The Will call on Hoppers-Crawdads from Wednesday afternoon

from Will Cornelius(NWG/Guilford College) Hoppers’ media

STELLAR PITCHING LEADS HOPPERS PAST CRAWDADS IN FINALE

GREENSBORO, NC – The Grasshoppers churned out another masterful pitching performance in the month of June, holding the Crawdads bats at-bay to pick up the win in the series finale.

The Hoppers’ staff has pitched their way into the Sally League’s top three in ERA during the month, and continued their spectacular stretch by pitching past Hickory 9-0 in Wednesday’s afternoon contest.

Starter Tom Koehler (4-3) anchored the Hoppers from the mound, hurling six innings of three-hit baseball before his exit. Koehler surrendered his first hit in the third frame after retiring the first seven hitters he faced. He didn’t allow another Crawdads’ hit until his sixth inning of work, when Erik Morrison laced a leadoff double down the left field line.

Koehler finished his day in-line for his fourth win of the year, tossing things up to Andrew Loomis and the bullpen at the start of the seventh inning.

Loomis picked up where Koehler left off, logging two innings of relief while fanning three. Pete Andrelczyk followed Loomis in the ninth inning, retiring all three batters in order to finish off the Crawdads and wrap up Koehler’s fourth of the year.

Koehler’s career day on the mound gave the series advantage to the Hoppers, and avenged his June 6th loss to the Crawdads with his first victory over his last three decisions.

The Hopper’s offense provided plenty of run support for Koehler, tagging Crawdad’s starter Carlos Pimentel for six runs over four innings.

The Hoppers got on the board first, striking for three runs in the second inning. Ben Lasater kicked off the scoring when he lined a single back up the middle and came around to score on Daniel Pertusati’s second home run of the season.

The long ball provided the Hoppers with three more runs in the fourth inning, when Justin Jacobs connected with his sixth home run of the season to plate Lasater, who doubled to begin the inning.

Jacobs brought in another run in the fifth with an RBI single before the Hoppers padded their lead with two additional runs next inning.

Jacobs and Pertusati paced the Hoppers with three RBIs each, and gathered two hits apiece to join Lasater and Jake Smolinski in the multi-hit department.

The win gives the Hoppers (34-31) a three-game winning streak, and distances themselves further from Hickory in the Northern Division standings. The Hoppers will try to extend their winning streak to a season-best four games tomorrow, when they travel to Kannapolis to face off with the Intimidators.

Tomorrow’s match up will be key to the standings battle, as the Hoppers remain within striking distance of the Intimidators for third place in the division. The first pitch of the pivotal road game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Roster Moves:
INF Joel Staples transferred from Greensboro to Jamestown
OF Isaac Galloway activated from Disabled List, to Greensboro roster

Will Cornelius
Media Relations, Intern
Greensboro Grasshoppers Baseball