Drive Outlast Crawdads For 3-1 Comeback Win

Greenville, S.C. – Tied at 1-1, the Drive scored two runs in the bottom of eighth inning, on a two-error play and Cam Cannon RBI single, to secure a 3-1 win and second-straight comeback victory against the Crawdads, bringing the winning-streak to seven games Thursday night at Fluor Field.

Elih Marrero walked with one out to start things off in the eighth inning. Koss then singled, and two errors by the Hickory shortstop allowed Marrero to score, giving the Drive a 2-1 lead. Cannon followed with an RBI single off the Green Monster, plating Koss for a 3-1 lead.

The Drive offense was mostly quiet until late in the game, with all three runs coming in the sixth inning or later. The Drive only accrued five hits on the night. Tyler Esplin led the charge with two hits and the lone extra-base knock of the game – an RBI double in the sixth.

Alex Scherff earned the win in relief, hurling the final 1.1 innings and fanning two Crawdads with no walks or runs allowed. Chris Murphy started for the Drive and tossed 6.0 innings, a career high. This also matches the individual game high for Greenville starters, set by Chase Shugart. He allowed only one run on two hits, tallying eight punchouts, also a career high. Out of the bullpen, Brendan Nail hurled 1.2 innings with one strikeout, no runs and no walks.

Sean Chandler took the loss for the Crawdads with 1.0 inning in relief, allowing three hits and two runs with two walks and only one strikeout. Not to be outdone by his opposing southpaw starter, Hickory’s Cody Bradford threw 5.1 innings of one-run baseball. He struck out eight batters and allowed only one walk.

Hickory broke through in the top of the sixth inning on a solo homer from Scott Kapers to take a 1-0 lead.

This lead did not last long, however. Cole Brannen and Christian Koss reached base on a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively, in the bottom of the frame. Esplin then laced a single up the middle to score Brannen and tie the game at 1-1 with two outs.

Then the Drive scored two runs in the bottom of the decisive eighth inning.

Game four against Hickory is scheduled for 7:05 pm Friday night at Fluor Field. The Drive are slated to throw Grant Gambrell while the Crawdads are set to throw Zak Kent.