Stone Crabs Split Doubleheader Against Hammerheads

The Charlotte Stone Crabs ended the first half of the season by splitting a doubleheader against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Tuesday at Charlotte Sports Park. The Stone Crabs suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in the first game, snapping a nine game winning streak. But the Stone Crabs battled back to earn a 7-1 victory in game two.

Game one was a great pitchers duel. Nick Barnese and Brad Hand dazzled the crowd with six scoreless innings.

Jupiter broke the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning when Chris Dunn grounded out to short, scoring Ben Lasater to give the Hammerheads the win 1-0.

Barnese suffered the loss and fell to 5-4 on the season. Barnese pitched 7 innings, surrendering 1 run on 3 hits with 2 strikeouts.

The second game was just the opposite as the Stone Crabs offense came to life, taking a huge lead early and never looking back.

The Stone Crabs took the lead in the second inning, striking for five runs with four extra base hits in the inning. Stephen Vogt tripled to right to lead off the inning. Vogt later scored on a single by Anthony Scelfo. Kyeong Kang then struck a double that scored Scelfo. Kang moved to third on a single by Isaias Velasquez. Both runners would then score on a triple by Reid Fronk as the Stone Crabs took a 5-0 lead.

Charlotte pushed across two more runs in the third inning. Vogt, Matt Spring and Scelfo loaded the bases with three consecutive singles. The first run scored on a sac fly by Kang to score Vogt. Velasquez plated the second run of the inning with a ground ball to score Spring and increase the lead to 7-0.

Jupiter scored their only run in the fourth inning. Stone Crabs pitcher Chris Andujar struck two batters in the inning allowing a run to cross the plate.

Andujar earned the win, pitching 5 innings and allowing 1 run on 2 hits with a walk and 2 hit batters. Michael Jarman pitched 2 shut-out innings allowing just 2 hits to end the game.

The Stone Crabs have a day off on Wednesday and return to action against the Fort Myers Miracle on the road Thursday to begin the second half of the season.