Chu's walk-off double propels Hillcats past Dash

LYNCHBURG, Va. (April 25, 2018) - The Dash rallied back from early deficit, but Li-Jen Chu delivered a walk-off double to lift the Lynchburg Hillcats to a 4-3 win in Wednesday's twin bill opener at City Stadium.
With the game tied at three in the seventh, Conner Capel drew a leadoff walk against Dash reliever Mike Morrison (3-1), bringing Chu to the plate. On a 3-1 pitch, the Hillcats catcher drilled the game-winning hit into the gap in right-center to bring home Capel. Prior to Wednesday, Morrison had not allowed a run through his first eight innings of work this year.

Lynchburg (11-7) took the early advantage in the series opener thanks to two unearned runs in the first against right-hander Dylan Cease. Mitch Longo began the frame by reaching on a fielding error by second baseman Mitch Roman, and Gavin Collins followed with a single to put runners on first and second with nobody out.
With Capel at the plate, the runners moved up to second and third on a passed ball from Yermin Mercedes. Later in the at-bat, Capel stroked a single to left that brought home Longo and Collins. 
Micker Adolfo sliced the deficit in the half quickly in the next frame against Hillcats starter Zach Plesac. On a 0-1 count, Adolfo blasted his fourth homer of the season, a solo shot to left-center to make it a 2-1 contest.
The Hillcats plated their final run against Cease in the fourth. With a runner on second and two outs, Collins roped an RBI double to left to put Lynchburg ahead by two. Cease tossed 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (none earned) while striking out six. The right-hander also yielded a career-high six walks.
Down 3-1 in the fifth, the Dash (10-9) started their comeback effort against Hillcats reliever Billy Strode. Adolfo worked a one-out walk, and Gavin Sheets followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Mercedes then delivered a run-scoring double to left to make it a one-run game. The next batter, Yeyson Yrizarri, knotted the contest at three with a sacrifice fly. 
Dalbert Siri (1-1) picked up the win for Lynchburg, allowing just one hit in a scoreless seventh. Meanwhile, Dash righty Drew Hasler was solid out of the bullpen in Wednesday's loss, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames.
Game two of Wednesday's doubleheader will begin at around 8:45 p.m. in Lynchburg. Winston-Salem will send right-hander Danny Dopico (0-1, 5.40 ERA) to the hill against left-hander Tanner Tully (1-0, 2.00 ERA). Fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.