ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, April 26, 1997               TAG: 9704280046
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-2  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT

DURHAM BATTERS AVALANCHE BULLS 7, AVALANCHE 3

Numerous home runs fly out of the park, but three quarters are hit by the host team.

If the Salem Avalanche was suffering any withdrawal from a lack of home runs after playing a week of home games, the craving was fulfilled on Friday.

The Avalanche saw four fly out of Durham Athletic Park. The problem was that three were hit by Durham Bulls.

Salem fell to the Bulls for the fourth time in four meetings this season, this time by a 7-3 score. The Bulls hit three home runs off starting pitcher Tom Stepka, the second time he's allowed three in a game.

Salem scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning thanks to a two-run home run by right fielder Chad Gambill (his first of the season) and a two-run single by first baseman Jamie Taylor.

Salem got off to a good start with eight hits in the first five innings. Then Bulls reliever Ismael Villegas came in and retired the last 11 Avalanche batters in order.

LENGTH: Short :   33 lines
KEYWORDS: BASEBALL
          NOTE: PLEASE SEE MICROFILM FOR STATISTICS.