Dash homer their way to win over Lynchburg

The Hillcats’ offense continued its torrid pace but the ‘Cats fell 13-12 in 12 innings Sunday night to the Winston-Salem Dash. Dash LF Cyle Hankerd delivered the knock-out blow with a walk-off solo blast. Lynchburg racked up 18 hits and scored in the double digits for the fourth time in five nights. They are averaging over seven runs per game over their last nine.

The scoring started in the top of the first. Tommy La Stella drove in Nick Ahmed with a sacrifice fly to right field, and Adam Milligan homered to left field. The Hillcats led 2-0 early.

Two Hillcat errors led to an unearned run in the bottom of the second of started J.R. Graham. The lead was cut to 2-1.

Lynchburg opened up their biggest lead of the night in the fourth and fifth innings. Three runs scored in the fourth highlighted by an RBI double for David Rohm. Then in the fifth, Edward Salcedo hit a two-run homer, his ninth of the season. Salcedo now is the active team leader in home runs. The ‘Cats led 7-1.

The Dash kick started their eventual comeback with two runs in the bottom of the fifth helped by an error. They added four more in the sixth off LHP Chris Masters who relieved the starter Graham after five innings. Hankered hit the first of four Dash homers in the sixth inning, a two-run shot. After six it was 8-7 Hillcats.

The ‘Cats answered with three in the seventh. Bobby Stevens launched his first home run as a Hillcat driving in Rohm in the process.

Up 11-7 going into the eighth inning, the Hillcats brought in their closer for a two-inning save. RHP Juan Jamie had a rare off night giving up four runs and the lead. Michael Earley capped the inning with a two-out three-run bomb to left field tying the game at 11-11.

Both teams traded runs in the 11th inning, before Hankerd ended the game in the 12th with a solo shot off RHP Ian Marshall.

Marshall (0-1) took the loss giving a solo shot to his first and only batter. RHP Taylor Thompson (1-1) earned the win tossing three innings for the first time this season. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out five.