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Hawks hold off Volcanoes, remain tied for first in NWL South

The Boise Hawks held off the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 12-9, on Saturday night.
The Boise Hawks held off the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 12-9, on Saturday night.

BOISE-- The Boise Hawks scored five runs in the fifth inning, and five more in the late innings to pick up their second straight win, 12-9, over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes on Saturday night.

Both teams got their offense going early in the contest, with the Volcanoes scoring two in the first, and Boise countering with two runs in the second inning. After that, pitchers Ben Wells and Andrew Leenhouts settled down to hold the opposition scoreless.

The Hawks broke the scoring silence in the fifth when Rashad Crawford crushed a shot off the wall in centerfield, scoring Jeffrey Baez to take a 3-2 lead. Mark Zagunis followed with another deep hit off the wall in center, scoring Crawford to go up by two. Danny Canela plated him next with a double down the right field line. When the dust had finally settled on the inning, the Hawks led 7-2.

But Salem-Keizer rallied, scoring a run in the seventh, and three more in the eighth.

Boise needed a late inning response and got it in the bottom of the eighth. Leading 10-6, Boise's Chesny Young lined one to right, scoring Canela and Jesse Hodges to go back on top by six.

But the Volcanoes battled to the end, scoring three runs in the ninth before Sam Wilson closed the door in relief.

With the win, the Hawks remain tied for first in the Northwest League South Division with the Hillsboro Hops. The Hawks must have sole possession of first place to win the first half title and advance to the Northwest League Playoffs.

Boise will host Salem-Keizer again on Sunday night.

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