Tourists Drop a Heartbreaker in Extras, 10-9

ASHEVILLE- The Asheville Tourists lost their first extra-inning game of the season on Friday night, 10-9 in ten innings to the Greenville Drive. Asheville was previously 3-0 in extra-innings; however, the Drive plated two runs in the top of the tenth and the Tourists were held to one.

Asheville built a 6-1 lead over the first three innings. Jacob Melton hit a two-run Home Run and Tommy Sacco Jr. belted a three-run blast. Greenville committed three errors during that stretch and the home team took full advantage.

The Drive responded by scoring the game’s next seven runs to take an 8-6 lead. Asheville rallied to tie the game 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh on a Drew Gilbert two-run double. Neither team scored in the eighth or ninth and the contest went to extras.

The Tourists recorded a quick out in the top of the tenth but a Sacrifice Fly followed by a throwing error allowed the Drive to put two runs on the board without registering a hit in the inning. Asheville’s top of the tenth included a walk drawn by Sacco Jr. and an RBI single from Tim Borden II. The Tourists had the tying run at third and the winning run at first when a groundout ended the game.

On the mound, Ronny Garcia, Walker Brockhouse, and Bryant Salgado combined to pitch 3.2 innings without allowing any earned runs. Offensively, the Tourists received two-hit games from Melton, Gilbert, and Justin Williams.