Hoppers win it on Ben Lasater’s walk-off HR in the 10th

The Greensboro Grasshoppers got down early but fought back and claimed a 6-5 win over the Greenville Drive in extra innings in front of 9,322 fans on Thirsty Thursday at NewBridge Bank Park.

The leader was Lasater, Ben Lasater. Ben helped get the win in the bottom of 10 with a walk-off solo blast to left field to give the Opening Night crowd something to cheer about as they left the ballyard after a huge fireworks show that filled the skies over Eugene and Bellemeade Streets.

Hoppers Win, Hoppers Win, Hoppers Win again in 10, thanks to Big Ben and we all have to come back on Friday to see if they will do it again.

The Hoppers got down early 3-0 as Greenville plated a three-run shot in the top of the first inning by Tim Federowicz and the Drive still led 5-2 in the fifth before the Grasshoppers mounted their rally in the 7th with three key runs that tied the game at 5 and set the stage for Lasater’s hometown heroics.

The Drive got HR’s from Federowicz and Ryan Lavarnway and the Hoppers saw Lasater connect for their first round-tripper of the season. The Hoppers got their share of extra-base hits with six doubles, receiving two from Jeremy Synan, and one each from Lasater, Kyle Skipworth, Paul Gran and Brandon Turner. Gran, Synan, Lasater and Daniel Pertusati had two hits each.

The final again:
Greensboro Grasshoppers 6
Greenville Drive 5
10 Innings
WP:Jared Yecker(1-0)
LP:Felix Ventura(0-1)
Time of Game:2:42
Attendance:9,322