The Tourists belted four home runs and banged out 13 hits en route to an 11-4 win over Greenville in game one Tuesday night at McCormick Field.
Greenville registered seven hits, two homers and two doubles. Brandon Howlett collected two RBI on a two-run homer. It was Howlett’s 10th of the year. Christian Koss compiled the only multi-hit effort for the away team, including a solo home run for his fourth clout of the year and second in as many games. Jaxx Groshans went 1-for-3 with one RBI, his first in a Drive uniform, and one walk.
Brandon Walter took the loss in his second start for the Drive after surrendering nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits, three homers and no walks over 3.1 innings. He fanned seven.
Tyler Brown started and got the win for Asheville. The right-hander hurled 6.0 innings of one run ball on four hits, one homer and no walks with six strikeouts. Mark Moclair earned the 3.0 innings save after relenting three runs with five punchouts.
Asheville took a quick 1-0 lead with one out in the bottom of the first inning on a Shay Whitcomb solo homer.
In their next at-bat, the Tourists added two more runs, one unearned, on back-to-back RBI singles by Freudis Nova and Alex Holderbach to take a 3-0 lead.
Two innings later in the fourth inning Asheville belted two three-run homers by Bryan Arias and Whitcomb, giving them a 9-0 advantage.
Greenville got on the board in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Koss hammered a ball to left field for a solo home run. Asheville led, 9-1.
The Drive plated another run in the seventh frame. With one out, Dearden grounded an infield single to shortstop. Two batters later, Groshans laced an RBI double center field, bringing the score to 9-2.
But Asheville got both runs back in the eighth inning on a two-run homer by Holderbach to make the score 11-2.
Greenville wouldn’t go quietly as it plated two runs in the ninth inning. Tyreque Reed walked to lead off the frame. The next batter, Howlett, belted a two-run homer.
Prepared by the Greenville Drive.