Sullivan walks it off in thriller
High Point/Thomasville, N.C. – Danny Sullivan delivered the walk-off single to left field that pushed the High Point-Thomasville HiToms (21-12) past the Fayetteville Swampdogs (12-22) 8-7 in a back and forth shootout. Sullivan’s hit marks the fourth time this season that the HiToms have won in walk-off fashion.
Right away, the HiToms drew first blood on a run scoring sacrifice fly by Zac Almond for RBI number 30 of the season.
What seemed like a crucial blow in the top of the fourth was a three-run homer by Jack Conley that cleared the manual scoreboard in left centerfield.
The HiToms answered in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Sullivan and on a game-tying RBI sac-fly by David Fry.
The game wasn’t tied for long when Trey Vickers looped an RBI single to make it 4-3 Fayetteville at stretch time.
Kaeson Wilson was brought in relief in the bottom of the seventh and had a rough go of it. After a walk to Drew Frederic, the next batter Carson Jackson bombed a two-run go-ahead shot to right center. The same formula worked for a two-run shot off of the bat of Teddy Hoffman to extend the HiToms advantage to 7-4.
Reid Clements struck out six batters in his three innings of relief work and Logan Welch (1-1) was summoned to close the door in the top of the ninth. Welch surrendered a lead-off single and later after an error a RBI single to Josh Crump as the Swampdogs aimed to close the gap. Another error by David Fry at shortstop allowed two more runs to score tying the game up at 7 heading into the home half of the ninth.
Will Ziebol (0-1) continued to roll out of the bullpen getting the first two outs easily but he issued back to back walks to Hoffman and Hunter Slater. Sullivan stepped in against new Swampdog reliever Peter Moore and sent a rolling ball to left field for a base hit. HPT third base coach Chaz Frank waved Hoffman in to score as the HiToms walked it off to win 8-7.
The HiToms scheduled exhibition game against North Wake tomorrow, July 14 has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. Up next for the HiToms is a date with the Asheboro Copperheads this Friday night at Finch Field with the first pitch set for 7 p.m.