Lynchburg topped Myrtle Beach, 7-1 with the help of 10 hits and multiple players with two RBIs. The ‘Cats pounced on the Pelicans early, as they scored five runs in the first two frames. Nick Pasquale threw a scoreless five innings to earn his second win of the season.
All nine players recorded at least one hit in the contest with David Armendariz being the lone ‘Cat to collect two hits. Bobby Bradley hit a first-inning home run to make the score 2-0 after Anthony Santander was hit by a pitch to reach first base. The Hillcats added three more runs in the second inning. Mark Mathias walked and came around to score on a Paul Hendrix double. Greg Allen walked and later stole second base to put two runners in scoring position for Taylor Murphy. In Murphy’s second at-bat of the game he singled up the middle to drive in two more runs.
With one out in the fourth Hendrix walked, which set up Armendariz, who hit a double off of the left field wall to drive in Hendrix. In the sixth frame Mathias and Armendariz doubled to tack on an extra run and give the Hillcats a 7-1 lead. Armendariz went 2-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Five of Lynchburg’s runs came with two outs in the inning.
Pasquale made his fifth start, which marked his second longest outing of the season. He went five frames and struck out four batters, not allowing any runs. The righty lowered his earned run average to 2.03. Luke Eubank recorded his first hold of the season as he went 1.2 innings and only surrendered one hit.
Cameron Hill made his ninth straight scoreless appearance out of the bullpen. He has not allowed a run in his last 15 2/3 frames. He struck out two batters in his lone inning of work. Trevor Frank closed out the victory with a scoreless ninth frame. He stranded two runners in scoring position.
With Bradley’s first inning homer the Hillcats have now hit 55 homers and are 25-11 in games in which they do homer. …The ‘Cats win dropped the magic number to clinch a first-half Northern Division championship to three…The Hillcats improved to 22-9 at home and 21-1 when notching at least 10 hits in a game.
Lynchburg will look to win their sixth home contest in a row Saturday at 6:30 p.m., against Myrtle Beach. Lynchburg will send JulianMerryweather (7-1, 0.92) to the mound. Myrtle Beach will start Zach Hedges (5-4, 2.39). Fans can listen to the action on 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com, beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at 6:15 p.m.
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Chris Graham
