Catfish 12, Hickory 6

The Catfish bounced back from last night's one-run loss with a 12-6 win over the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) tonight. The Catfish entered the game having lost their lead-off (and leading) hitter who was promoted to Vero Beach after last night's game.

Former Catfish Jamie Hoffman was hardly missed tonight as the team pounded out 17 hits en route to the win.

Both our players were in the line-up tonight. Dan Batz went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and 4 RBIs. Lucas May contributed a hit, a run, and an RBI to the Catfish attack. Luke's RBI gives him 47, just one shy of the team lead.

Full game story from the Columbus Catfish:

Travis Denker's Two HR Lead Catfish 17-Hit Attack in 12-6 Win over Hickory
Eight Unanswered Runs from Columbus Drive Fish Back to .500 in 2nd Half

HICKORY, NC—DH Travis Denker hit his team leading 13th and 14th homeruns tonight as the Columbus Catfish knocked out 12 runs on 17 hits to beat the Hickory Crawdads 12-6. The Catfish took a 4-0 lead after two innings but had to rally from behind, scoring eight unanswered runs to win by six. 1B Dan Batz went 3-5 with a double and 4 RBI for the Fish, who even their record at 6-6 in the second half with the victory. The Crawdads fall to 8-4 in the SAL-North in the loss. RHP Blake Johnson earned his seventh victory of the season tonight with the win on the hill.

Batz's two-run double gave Columbus a 2-0 lead in the second inning, with Columbus adding runs on an RBI single from C Chris Westervelt and a solo HR by SS Dominique Laurin to make it 4-0. Hickory scored two runs in the second, three in the third, and one in the fourth inning to lead 6-4. The first of Denker's two HR tonight, a two-run shot against starter RHP Derek Hankins, tied the game at six in the fifth inning.

In the sixth inning tonight, the Catfish sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring five times. RF Ryan Russ's two-run triple gave the Catfish the lead at 8-6. SS Lucas May ripped a single to left to make it 9-6, and Batz drove home two more runs with a single to make it 11-6. Denker's second round-tripper of the evening, a solo shot to right field in the eighth gave the Fish a 12-6 lead. Denker has been on base 14 times in his last 16 plate appearances.

The Catfish and Crawdads face off for the third time in the four-game set tomorrow when RHP Chris Malone (7-3, 3.67 ERA) makes the start for Columbus. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory and can be heard on WDAK 540 AM in Columbus and on www.columbuscatfish.com.