The Hickory Crawdads found yet another wild way to add to their streak of wins Saturday night, as the 'Dads utilized a 2-out, 2-strike passed ball to score Jairo Beras from third and give the team a 5-4, walk-off win over the Greenville Drive at L.P. Frans Stadium.

All five of the Crawdads runs in the win were unearned, with the team plating three error assisted tallies in the 5th, tying the game with the help of an error fueled run in the 8th, and ultimately winning the contest on the timely passed ball in the 9th. Beras led the Hickory offense all evening going 2-2 with a double, two walks and two runs scored. The 'Dads have now won 23 of their last 26 ballgames, and remain in first place in the Northern Division with an 8-2 second half record.

For the second straight night it was the Drive who jumped out to the initial advantage, as Greenville right fielder Kendrick Perkins lined an opposite field, solo home run to left for a 1-0 score. That would be one of the only blemishes on the night for Crawdads starting pitcher Akeem Bostick, who allowed only two runs on four hits, one walk, and three strikeouts over 5.1 IP.

With Bostick holding the potent Greenville offense at bay, Hickory rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 5th to take their first lead of the game at 3-1. Shortstop Michael De Leon brought home the first tally with a 2-out, RBI triple to left-center, followed immediately after by a 2-run homer to left-center by Lewis Brinson.

The Drive quickly responded themselves, plating a run in the 6th to narrow the score to 3-2 before coming away with two runs in the 7th to re-take the lead at 4-3. Both Greenville rallies were driven by walks, as the Drive drew six free passes over the two inning stretch.

The 'Dads proved resilient however as the club rallied for the game-tying run in the 8th, with Nomar Mazara and Ryan Cordell both singling before Mazara took third on an error and eventually came home on a double play ground out by Kellin Deglan for a 4-4 tie.

The decisive 9th inning began with an infield single by Beras, who beat out a throw to first to put the winning run on base with no outs. After being sacrificed to second on a bunt from Luis Marte and taking third on a ground out by Evan Van Hoosier, Beras looked like he would be stranded 90 feet from home when Michael De Leon fell behind against Greenville reliever Jacob Dahlstrand. Dahlstrand's 0-2 pitched missed outside however and got by the glove of All-Star catcher Jake Romanski for a passed ball, allowing Beras to dash home from third for the game-winning run.

The wild finish made a winner out of Hickory reliever Jose Valdespina (2-0), who threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen on two hits and two strikeouts. Dahlstrand (4-4) took the loss after giving up two unearned runs over 3.2 frames on the mound.

De Leon joined Beras in having a good night at the plate finishing 2-3 with a triple, walk, RBI and run scored, while Brinson ended the game 1-3 with his fifth long ball of the season, two RBIs and a walk.

The Crawdads (8-2) and Drive (3-7) will play again Sunday evening at 5:00 pm in game three of their four-game series.

Five former Appalachian State University student-athletes have been selected for induction into the Appalachian State Athletics Hall of Fame, Appalachian State’s Former Athletes Association announced on Saturday.

Track and field’s Jennifer Claud-White (2001-05), football’s Matt Isenhour (2003-06) and Damon Scott (1993-96), men’s soccer’s Frank Kemo (1973-76) and women’s golf’s Angie Ridgeway (1983-87) will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 6 in conjunction with Appalachian State football’s home opener game against Campbell.

All five honorees will be recognized during Appalachian State athletics’ annual Hall of Fame Induction breakfast at 9 a.m. on Sept. 6 in the Blue Ridge Ballroom at the Plemmons Student Union. A limited number of tickets are available at $15 per person and reservations can be made by contacting Natalie Harkey at (828) 262-3108 or harkeynm@appstate.edu.

The group will also be honored at halftime of that day’s gridiron clash between the Mountaineers and Camels at Kidd Brewer Stadium, which kicks off at 6 p.m. Tickets are available now as part of Appalachian State’s full, half and flex season-ticket plans. Single-game tickets go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 5.

JENNIFER CLAUD-WHITE (Track and Field — 2002-05)
Sprinter and jumper was a nine-time Southern Conference champion ... won SoCon Outdoor titles in the 200-meter dash (2002, ‘04, ‘05) and 100-meter dash (2002, ‘04) ... also earned SoCon Indoor championships in the 55-meter dash (2002), 200-meter dash (2004), long jump (2005) and triple jump (2005) ... earned SoCon Freshman of the Year honors (2002) and was named as the SoCon Outdoor Most Outstanding Athlete in 2004 ... holds the Appalachian State indoor record in the 60-meter dash (7.44).

MATT ISENHOUR (Football — 2003-06)
Two-time All-American helped Appalachian State to its first two of three-straight NCAA FCS national titles in 2005 and 2006 ... anchored an offensive line that paved the way for Appalachian State’s all-time leading rusher, Kevin Richardson (HOF ‘13) ... three-time all-SoCon selection earned the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the league’s top offensive lineman in 2005.

FRANK KEMO (Men’s Soccer — 1973-76)
Four-time all-SoCon selection finished his career with 48 career goals, good for fourth in school history ... helped the Mountaineers to three-straight league titles (1973, ‘74, ‘75) and their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1975 ... was a member of the winningest team in school history, leading the Apps to a 12-1-0 record in 1975 ... named as Appalachian State’s Male Athlete of the Year by the Rhododendron yearbook in 1976-77 ... served as team co-captain his final two years.

ANGIE RIDGEWAY (Women’s Golf —1983-87)
Four-year letterwinner was Appalachian State’s all-time winningest golfer until 2012 ... ranks ninth in school history for career stroke average (81.26) ... is eighth all-time in lowest 18-hole round (71) ... tied for second in App State history in individual tournament wins ... played professionally on the LPGA tour for 12 years following her graduation in 1987 ... played in over 190 events including six U.S. Opens .. posted six career top-10 finishes, 10 top-15 showings and was in the top-25 on 21 occasions ... has served as the head women’s golf coach at Wofford for the last 10 years, where she has led the Terriers to eight tournament wins.

DAMON SCOTT (Football —1993-96)
Former All-American and all-SoCon honoree ranks fourth in Appalachian State history in career rushing yards (3,800) and attempts (745) ... ranks second in rush yards per game (95.0) and fifth in career rushing touchdowns (38) ... is one of just of three Mountaineer running backs to post multiple 1,000-yard seasons ... eclipsed the 100-yard mark 20 times in his career, good for second in school history ... scored 41 career touchdowns and is tied for sixth in the Appalachian record books in scoring with 250 points (41td/2xp).