Dash Blow by the Drive in Game One, 14-4

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (August 15th, 2023) – The Winston-Salem Dash scored early and often, plating five runs in the first inning and three in the second, to blow by the Greenville Drive, 14-4, Tuesday night at Truist Stadium in front of 2,977 fans.

After a quick top of the first inning by Winston-Salem (49-55) starter Tyler Schweitzer, the Dash offense wasted no time jumping on the board.

Greenville (56-53) starter Juan Daniel Encarnacion got a fly out against the first batter he faced, but Brooks Baldwin, celebrating his 23^rd birthday, deposited his first home run in High-A into the seats in right, making it 1-0. Following the homer, the next two batters singled and Colby Smelley brought home a run on a single, pushing the lead to two, 2-0.

Loidel Chapelli came to the plate with two runners on and two outs sitting on a 20-game on base streak, looking to extend it. Chapelli fell behind in the count but found a fastball and smoked it down the line into the right field corner, clearing the bases as the Cuba native legged out a triple, making it 4-0. The second basemen came home on a wild pitch and the Dash led 5-0 after an inning.

In the second, the Drive got two runs back, but Winston-Salem tacked on another three runs in the bottom of the second. The Dash loaded the bases with one out, and Shawn Goosenberg drove home two runs on a single building the lead back to five, 7-2. The Dash added another run after a fielder’s choice, taking an 8-2 lead.

Schweitzer sat down Greenville in order in the third, and the Dash picked up another run in the bottom of the frame. Baldwin brought home a run picking up his second RBI on the evening, making it 9-2 Winston-Salem.

After the Drive made it a six-run game in the top of the fourth, the pitching took over. Vince Vanelle replaced Schweitzer in the fifth and mowed through Greenville’s order. The Arizona product allowed only one runner to reach over three innings, keeping the 9-3 lead intact. After the seventh inning stretch, the Dash batted around, putting up four more runs taking a 10-run lead, 13-3.

Both teams traded runs in the eighth, and in the ninth, Noah Owen retired Greenville in order, closing out the win, 14-4.

Six Winston-Salem hitter’s recorded multi-hit games, with Baldwin and Goosenberg picking up three-hit outings. Vanelle took the win for the Dash while Encarnacion was tabbed with the loss.

Game two between the Dash and Drive is set for Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. from Truist Stadium.