Kinston splits twinbill

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on July 25, 2005 2:16 PM

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KINSTON -- Mike Conroy drove in the game-tying and winning runs as Kinston defeated Potomac 4-3 in eight innings to split a doubleheader with the Potomac Nationals on Sunday.

The split moved Kinston to 12-17 in the second half and 53-46 overall, while the Nationals are 16-13 and 47-52. Potomac won Game 1 by a score of 9-0.

The Nationals actually scored the first 12 runs Sunday, blowing out the Indians 9-0 in game one behind Brett Price's complete-game shutout. Price (9-9) allowed just two hits and recorded nine strikeouts and Potomac broke the game open with five runs in the sixth off of Matt Davis. Nick Pesco (6-9) started for Kinston and took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in five innings.

Potomac then jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in Game 2, as Shawn Norris opened the scoring with a two-run homer to right and Frank Diaz belted Kinston starter Chris Niesel's very next pitch over the wall in left.

The Indians bounced back immediately, however, picking up two runs in the bottom of the inning on Brandon Pinckney's RBI triple down the right field line and Rodney Choy Foo's sacrifice fly to cut the margin to 3-2.

Scott Roehl and Todd Pennington combined to keep it a one-run game over the next three innings, and Conroy then tied the game with a sharp single to left off reliever Chris Schroder in the bottom of the sixth to score Nathan Panther. Reliever Jim Ed Warden worked around a leadoff double in the seventh and a leadoff walk in the eighth, and Conroy then drew a bases-loaded walk from Devin Perrin in the bottom of the eighth to force in Ryan Goleski with the winning run. Warden (3-2) worked two shutout innings for the win, while Perrin fell to 2-6 with the loss.

The Indians open a week-long road trip tonight in Frederick with the start of a three-game series.