Petersen’s Home Run Power Falls Short, Again

Charleston, W.Va. — A.J. Battisto suffered his first loss of the season after giving up an eighth-inning that gave West Virginia the two-game sweep with the 4-3 victory and extended Greensboro’s currently skid to six games.

The Hoppers’ jumped on top early as Bryan Petersen hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning; it was is 14th of the season and second in as many days for Greensboro. Starter Jay Voss struck out six batters and left the game in a 3-3 tie after five innings of work.

Steven Cishek tossed two scoreless innings for Greensboro and the score remained knotted at three before Battisto entered the game to pitch the eighth.

With Power runners on second and third, Battisto intentionally walked Eric Fryer, who homered earlier in the game, to get to Ulrich Snijders. Snijders struck out for the second out of the inning before Battisto hit Curt Rindal with the bases loaded to plate Zelous Wheeler, the game’s eventual winning run.

Greensboro put a runner on in the ninth as Hunter Mense singled with one out, but Corey Frerichs retired the next two batters in order to earn his sixth save of the season; Reed Dickert was credited with the win.

The Hoppers lug their six-game losing streak back to NewBridge Bank Park where they will look to create some fireworks on the field in a four-game series against Delmarva before fans are treated to fireworks after the game. Post-game fireworks will be on display following Greensboro’s Thursday, Friday and Saturday contests. All three games are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. before Sunday’s series-finale kicks off at 5:00 p.m.

*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****