Williams Comes to the Rescue in Extra-Inning Win

ROME- Justin Williams played hero for the Asheville Tourists on Friday night. Asheville built a 4-0 lead on the Rome Braves in large part due to Williams’ un production. Rome rallied back late to force extras. In the top of the 11^th, Williams struck with a go-ahead two-out RBI single and the Tourists went on with win the game 5-4.

Rolando Espinosa opened the scoring with an RBI single to plate Austin Deming in the second inning. Williams followed with a Sacrifice Fly that brought home Kobe Kato. In the sixth, Williams belted a two-run double to increase Asheville’s advantage to 4-0.

Nic Swanson was fantastic on the mound. Swanson kept the Braves scoreless across five innings. It was Swanson’s fourth start with Asheville where he threw five shutout frames.

Rome rallied back with a run in the seventh, two more in the eighth, and tied the game with a run in the ninth. Neither team scored in the tenth inning. Asheville had Kato at second base with two outs in the 11^th when Williams struck again. Justin lined an RBI single up the first base line to put the Tourists back in front.

Rome had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the 11^th when Carlos Calderon induced a game-ending double-play. Williams finished with a season-high four RBI and the Tourists offense produced 11 hits. Alex Santos II and Walker Brockhouse pitched meaningful innings late for Asheville. The victory snapped a six-game skid.