Akeel Morris tossed two shutout innings and struck out two Thursday evenings game against the Greenville Drive

Game one of the three game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Greenville Drive was played in front of 3,642 fans Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium. The Drive utilized strong pitching by shutting out the Sand Gnats on five hits and taking the first game 4-0. The loss dropped the Sand Gnats to 9-5, but they still hold a one game lead on the second place Drive.

Greenville starter, Teddy Stankiewicz was stellar, tossing six shutout innings, allowing three hits, no walks, and struck out three.

The Drive scored their first run in the 3rd inning when third baseman, Jimmy Rider, walked and reached second on a wild pitch, then scored on a single by left fielder Kevin Mager.

In the 8th inning, Greenville scored three runs more runs, two of which were earned, via a walk, a triple and two Savannah errors.

The only highlight for the Sand Gnats was third baseman Jeff McNeil, going 2-for-4 and raising his average to .298 on the season.

Savannah Pitching

Robert Gsellman (L, 1-2)    5 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 5 K, 3 BB

Akeel Morris                        2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K, 3 BB

Dawrin Frias                        1 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB

John Mincone                     1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 K, 0 BB

Game two of the series starts at 7:05pm Friday evening at Grayson Stadium.   

Photo by Fred Devyatkin

*Wally Murphy, MMN’s Savannah Sand Gnats Beat writer, was on-hand at Grayson Stadium, during the Thursday nights game action.