Strong pitching lifts Lynchburg Hillcats past Wilmington

Eli Morgan (Win, 6-2) was sensational for the Lynchburg Hillcats on Sunday, racking up a career-high ten strikeouts in six shutout innings, in a 4-0 shutout win over Wilmington.

Lynchburg (39-44, 11-6) bounces back from two last at-bat losses to shut out the Blue Rocks (39-46, 8-7), recording their eighth shutout win this season. All of the shutout victories have come at City Stadium.

The Hillcats scored all four runs in the sixth inning. With one out, Li-Jen Chu, Trenton Brooks, and Dillon Persinger reached on consecutive singles to load the bases. With two away, Logan Ice walked on a full count to push a run across, giving the Hillcats a 1-0 lead. Jorma Rodriguez followed with a ground ball to third base, on which Emmanuel Rivera threw wide to first, allowing two more runs to come in to score. Ernie Clement then followed with an RBI single to right center field, pushing the lead to 4-0, as the Hillcats batted around in the inning.

Clement went 3-for-4 on Sunday, picking up his seventh multi-hit game. He has reached base in all 14 he has played for Lynchburg this season.

Morgan set the tone, striking out the side in the first inning, after Blake Perkins began the game with a leadoff single. Morgan retired the final eleven batters he faced, and did not allow a base runner past second base in the ballgame.

The Hillcats bullpen followed suit. Ben Krauth tossed two scoreless innings out of the pen, retiring six of the seven batters he faced, while Dalbert Siri tossed a three-up-three-down ninth to finish off the win.

The home stand continues on Monday, as the Hillcats welcome the Potomac Nationals to City Stadium for a four-game series. The Hillcats will send righty Zach Plesac (5-4, 4.99) to the hill to face off with right-hander Matthew DeRosier (0-1, 7.27) of Potomac in a 6:30 p.m. start.

Max Gun and Matt Present will be on the air beginning at 6:20 p.m. on TuneIn Radio and Radio434.

For tickets and more information visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, the City Stadium box office, or call 434-528-1144.