Grays win a close one in Vienna

​GAME RECAP (6-18-2016 Grays at Riverdogs)

By: DCGrays.com Press; Blane Crouse: @bcrouse_6

On Saturday night the Grays defeated the Vienna Riverdogs 5-4 to improve their record to 5-6. This win puts the Grays only one and a half games out of first place in the South Division about a quarter of the way through the season.

The Grays found themselves behind early as they trailed 1-0 at the end of the second inning. However they struck back in the top of the fourth, taking a 2-1 lead as DH Tyler Thomas (Shepherd) and SS Eric Sloper (Shepherd) both drove in runs. The Grays could not escape the fourth inning with the lead as the Riverdogs scored a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, tying the score at two.

In the top of the fifth the Grays offense came alive once again as RF Lamar Briggs (Jackson State) drove in LF Luke Robinson (Lafayette) with a double. Later in the inning C Drake Hollingsworth (Alabama-Huntsville) scored on a wild pitch bringing the score to 4-2 in favor of the Grays.

The Riverdogs then answered back with a home run in the bottom of the fifth and another run in the bottom of the seventh to tie it at four.

In the top of the eighth, 2B Parker Farley (Alabama-Huntsville) came through in the clutch with a single that drove in Thomas. This was all the scoring the Grays needed as RHP Bryan Quillens (Eastern Kentucky) and LHP Bo Burrup (BYU) shut down the Riverdogs’ offense for the final two innings.

The Grays relief pitching was outstanding, and the key relievers were rewarded. Burrup got the win and Quillens got the save as the two combined for eight strikeouts over only three innings pitched.
The back of the Grays lineup was particularly potent at the plate, as the six through nine hitters all drove in key runs in the win. 1B Marques Inman (West Virginia) continued his impressive season going two for four with a walk and a run scored.

Next up for the Grays will be another road game as they travel to Rockville to take on the Express (3-8) on Father’s Day. The Grays defeated the Express in their first meeting of the year, 8-4. On the mound for the Grays will be LHP Jacob Erikson (San Diego State) who won the Pitcher of the Week award for week one of the Ripken League season. Erikson is 1-0 on the year with a 0.73 ERA. RHP Nate Harmon (Southeastern U) will pitch for the Express. Harmon is 0-1 on the season and has struck out three batters over three innings.