Dirt Bags win a thriller in extra innings to force a 5th game.
Oct. 16, 2008
Reed Williams infield single with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th scored Rory Elliott to give the Orange Dirt Bags a 2-1 win in the back end of a double header played at night to force a 5th and final game. The game was a pitching duel between Zach Howell for the Dirt Bags and Ryan Hendrickson for the Blue Sox. Howell was very impressive going 7 innings with 12 k's and 1 hit. Hendrickson was equally impressive going 7 innings giving up only 3 hits while striking out 4.
The Blue Sox would scratch a run across in the top of the 8th, on a throwing error by the Dirt Bags. Derek Long's ground ball to SS was misplayed, Zach Long going to 3b, tried to score. Rogers threw behind the runner at 3b and the throw from 3b to home was wide giving the Blue Sox a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 8th the Dirt Bags would come thru with an exciting win. After a ground out, Rory Elliot singled to CF, followed by a single by Wesley Dozier. Tyler Wynn would draw a walk to load the bases. Pinch hitter Evan Patterson hit a ground ball to 3b and beat the throw to 1B, allowing Rory Elliot to score the tying run, as the Blue Sox tried to turn a game ending double play. The next batter was Reed Williams, who punched a base hit in the four hole to score Wesley Dozier with the winning run.
In a game played earlier in the day. The Blue Sox would win 8-4 behind a 2 out grand slam home run by Robby Thigpen in the bottom of the 5th inning. Besides Thigpen's heroics, Derek Long was 3-4 with a run scored and Corey Lamson was 1-2 with 3 RBI's. Jake McDonald would get the save going 1 1/3 innings. McDonald would enter the bottom of the top of the 6th with 2 outs and bases loaded and get Wesley Dozier to fly out to deep right field to preserve the 8-4 lead. Chris Coker would pick up the win for the Blue Sox. Evan Faithful was the starter for the Blue Sox and went 4 innings giving up only 2 earned runs. The hitting stars for the Dirt Bags were, Nick Sherrod continuing his torrid hitting going 2-4 with a RBI. Wes Dozier was 2-4 with 2 runs scored.
WINNING PITCHER GAME 4- ZACH HOWELL-"This was a fight between two bulldogs on the hill. We knew it would be a war"
LOSING PITCHER-RYAN HENDRICKSON- "This is the way baseball should be played."
HITTING STAR GAME 3-ROBBY THIGPEN- "He was struggling with his breaking ball, I was looking for a FB up and I got a good swing on it"
WINNING SKIPPER GAME 4- LANGDON POTTS- " Back in it. Zach Howell was unreal"
GAME NOTES: Game 5 starters are for the Blue Sox, Brandon Laine and the Dirt Bags are undecided...In game 3, Jake Lambert threw 1 1/3 innings relief striking out 3 batters...Reed Williams had a RBI double in game 3...Nick Sherrod would add a pinch hit single in game 4 to extend his streak of a hit in each game...Cody Nix and Tyler Kitts would throw out potential runs at the plate in the 5th inning of game 4...Attendance in game 3 was 78 and game 4 was 120...The intensity and energy in Game 3 and 4 was incredible, can it be matched for the decisive GAME 5!!!!!
