Savannah 16, Augusta 4

From Press Release:

Savannah, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats (10-5) pounded out 17 hits to defeat the Augusta Jackets (9-6) 16-4 Thursday in front of 4,229 fans at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta. Savannah has now won four games in a row, and stands alone in first place atop the Southern Division standings.

Savannah jumped out to a early 2-0 lead on shortstop Wilmer Flores' third inning two-run double. Augusta answered in the bottom of the frame. The 'Jackets tied the game on John Eshleman's two-run single after Sand Gnats starter Taylor Whitenton walked the bases full to start the frame. With the bases loaded, Whitenton's final pitch of the night drilled Chris Dominguez on the helmet to give the GreenJackets their only lead at 3-2.

The Sand Gnats followed with 14 unanswered runs - scoring twice in the fourth to take the lead on RBI hits by catcher Dock Doyle and centerfielder Pedro Zapata -before adding five more each in the fifth and seven innings and two in the ninth.

Flores brought in three runs with a double and home run for Savannah. Second baseman Alonzo Harris had a grand slam as part of a three-hit night while Zapata drove in four for the Sand Gnats.

Lance Hoge (2-0) earned the win with two innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball for the Gnats, walking three. Darrin Gorski earned the unusual save, his first of the year, by allowing one run on four hits over the final five innings.

Savannah has outscored the GreenJackets 36-11 in the first three games of the teams' four-game set.

Righthander Armando Rodriguez (0-2, 3.68) for the Gnats takes on Giants' first round pick Zack Wheeler (0-2, 16.20) on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Catch all of the action on News/Talk 630 WBMQ and online at www.sandgnats.com.

The Gnats return home from their eight-game road trip to take on the Hickory Crawdads at 6:05 pm Saturday. LiveWire Music Hall presents Saturday Night Live Music which begins when gates open at 4:30 pm and Postgame Fireworks are presented by KIX 96. For ticket information please call the Gnats at (912) 351-9150.