Late Home Run Stops Columbus' Winning Streak

Columbus – Donovan Cash’s three-run home run in the ninth inning lifted the Atlanta Crackers (13-8) to a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots (8-11) Friday at Golden Park.

Nate Anderson led the Crackers with a season-high four hits, and Cash drove in three runs on his homer in the ninth.  Austin Embrey led the Chatt-a-Hoots at the plate with two hits.

Atlanta trailed 2-1 heading into the ninth when Jake Edwards started the rally with a lead-off walk.  After Joseph Gossett and Buddy Floyd struck out, Edwards advanced to second on a pass ball and scored on Nate Anderson’s single up the middle to tie the game.  The Hoots then put Will Patota on base with an intentional walk, bringing Cash to the plate.  The rising freshman from Kennesaw State then crushed Slade James’ 0-2 pitch over the left field wall to give the Crackers a 5-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Ellis Yohn managed a pinch-hit solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to pull the Hoots within two, but that was as close as they would get.  Zach Green (1-1) pitched the final two innings for the Crackers to earn the win.  Slade James (2-2) was saddled with the loss.

Columbus took an early 1-0 lead in the first as Zac Rice led off the game with a double and scored on an RBI single by Cameron Gray.  The Crackers then evened the score on a pair of errors in the third before the Hoots retook the lead in the fourth.  Jesse Donohoe led off the inning with an infield single, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice error before scoring on a base hit by Austin Embrey to give the Chatt-a-Hoots a 2-1 lead.

Both teams will face each other again on Saturday, July 17 at Golden Park.  First pitch is at 6 p.m.

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