Norwich, Conn. – Kendall Simmons hit yet another home run and then turned a critically important game-ending double play in the bottom of the ninth as the Crosscutters escaped with an exciting 2-1 victory at Connecticut on Thursday night. Williamsport wrapped up a successful 4-2 road-trip and improved to 6-2 in the last eight games.
Connecticut (20-25) had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth but Cutters closer Brett Schulze induced the 6-4-3 to wrap up the game. The play at first was extremely close but Williamsport (16-29) got the call to end the game which otherwise would have brought in the tying run.
Simmons socked his sixth homer of the season in the third inning on a monster blast into the tress in left. The 19-year-old from Macon, Ga. Now has four home runs in the last five games, all of which have come on the road-trip. He is 8-for-17 over his five-game hitting streak with four home runs and six RBI.
Chris Micheles spun four innings of three-hit shutout ball to start and then reliever Spencer Van Scoyoc (W, 3-1) went the next three giving up just one run on one hit.
Rudy Rott knocked a single into left in his first at bat to extend his hitting streak to five going 8-for-19 in that stretch. Logan O’Hoppe singled and scored a run and now has hits in 11 of his last 12 games.
The Crosscutters return to BB&T Ballpark on Friday night taking on the Brooklyn Cyclones in the opener of a six-game homestand. RHP Adam Leverett is scheduled to start for Williamsport.
W – Spencer Van Scoyoc (3-1)
L – Keider Montero (0-1)
S – Brett Schulze (1)
HR – Kendall Simmons (6)
Crosscutters Record: 16-29
