Series 5: Crawfords take two of three from Hilldale

Hilldale 4-8, Crawfords 7-5

Pitcher use: Brewer and Byrd need three games off, Winters and Day two games off, SJ Williams and Trent one game. Mathis pitched one inning, Hensley two, in finale.

Game 1: Hilldale 4, Crawfords 2
WP: SJ Williams (2-1)
LP: Rogan (1-1)

Game 2: Crawfords 5, Hilldale 4
WP: Day (2-1)
LP: Winters (0-2)
Sv: Streeter (1)
HR: Beckwith (2), Lundy (1)

Game 3: Crawfords 11, Hilldale 6
WP: Brewer (1-1)
LP: Byrd (0-3)
HR: Wells 2 (4), Byrd 1, Charleston (2), Wright (4)

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Bullet Joe Rogan didn't fix what ails the Crawfords bullpen.

Rogan took the hill for the ninth inning of the opener to protect a 2-1 lead. He left six batters later having allowed four hits, one walk and three runs. Smokey Joe Williams went the distance for Hilldale, allowing just four hits. Three of them came in succession in the sixth inning, resulting in the Crawfords' two scores.

But the Crawfords won the next two. Leon Day was strong through eight innings but got into trouble after a John Beckwith error with two outs in the ninth. Sam Streeter came in to retire Turkey Stearnes with the bases loaded to end it.

The Crawfords chipped away at Nip Winters and reliever Piggie Powell with solo runs in five different innings, including homers by Beckwith and Dick Lundy.

The finale was one-sided. The Crawfords blasted Bill Byrd for 11 runs, nine earned, in six innings, including three-run taters from Oscar Charleston and Wild Bill Wright. Charleston had four RBIs in the game and Louis Santop added three.

Chet Brewer wasn't great, but he was good enough. He and reliever Verdell Mathis, who worked the ninth inning, coaxed five double plays from Hillsdale, three of them started by Ray Dandridge.