ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995                   TAG: 9508170079
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG                                  LENGTH: Medium

AVALANCHE DROPS FIFTH STRAIGHT

Jay Knoblauh's infield single off Salem starter Matt Pool with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Lou Collier with the game-winning run as the Lynchburg Hillcats slipped past the Salem Avalanche 3-2 in the Carolina League on Wednesday night. It was the Avalanche's fifth consecutive loss and seventh in its past nine games.

Collier started the rally in the ninth with a one-out double off Pool (8-6). After Pool walked Reed Secrist intentionally, he got Jake Austin to ground into a fielder's choice which put runners at first and third with two outs. Knoblauh then hit a chopper over Pool's head that third baseman Keith Grunewald could not field cleanly, allowing Collier to score.

Salem (25-27), which has lost its past three meetings against the Hillcats, trailed 1-0 before scoring two runs in the top of the seventh. Colin Dixon singled and Brian Culp doubled off Lynchburg starter Chris Peters to lead off the inning. Nate Holdren's groundout scored Dixon to tie the score at one.

After Forry Wells' groundout sent Culp to third, Steve Bernhardt struck out swinging, but the ball got past Lynchburg catcher Marcus Hanel, allowing Culp to score and give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead.

Lynchburg (26-27) tied the score in the bottom half of the inning when Secrist tripled with one out off Pool, who had retired 19 of 20 Hillcat batters. Jake Austin followed with an RBI single to tie the score at two.

Cullen Hartzog (4-3) got the win in relief for the Hillcats, pitching one perfect inning. Pool took the loss, going 82/3 innings and giving up three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out seven. In his past 162/3 innings, Pool has given up just three runs.

Salem sends right-hander Brent Crowther (3-4) to the mound tonight at 7 p.m. against Hillcat left-hander Jimmy Anderson (1-4) as the Avalanche try to prevent a three-game sweep. 


 by CNB