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The Hickory Hawks took an early 4-0 lead over the Western Branch Bruins and were too much for the Bruins to handle as Hickory got an impressive 8-1 victory on Thursday evening.

The scoring started for Hickory in the second inning as they exploded for three runs off Bruins ace Antonio Velasquez (Bryant & Stratton). Ben Barnes got it started with a 1-out walk and the Hawks next four hitters would reach base safely, highlighted by a 2-RBI single off the bat of Jonny Pascale. A Scott Crosson RBI double would add their final run of the frame as they took the quick 3-0 lead.

The Hawks would strike again in after three consecutive 2-out hits in the  bottom of the third, highlighted by an RBI double from Tyler Bowles.

The Western Branch offense was kept off balance all game by Hickory starter Jaren Snellinger, who scattered two hits in six innings on the mound for the Hawks. Snellinger struck out three and walked three in those six-innings of work.

Hickory would double their score in the top of the seventh inning getting three hits sandwiched around two walks en route to a four-run inning to make the score 8-0. Crosson had his second RBI double of the game, and a Zach Dzarnowski RBI-single up the middle highlighted the inning.

The Bruins would add a run in the bottom of the frame, but that was all that they could muster as the Hawks ended the game with the 8-1 victory.

The Hawks were led offensively by Pascale and Crosson, who each had two hits apiece with two RBI. Colby Smith also had two hits for the Hawks, who improve to 5-1 on the season and rebound after losing to Grassfield on Wednesday.
Western Branch was paced offensively by Aiden Foley, who led the team going 2-for-3. The Bruins look to get back on track on Tuesday as they travel to Deep Creek.