Your Thunderbirds used some late inning heroics to claim a Game 1 win and again in Game 2 to put away the Pelicans, win the series 2-0 and head to the Championship Series next week against the Orioles.

The bottom half of the lineup did the major damage in the late inning comeback in game one led by Jody Nicewonger, Jeff Whanger and Cliff Brade. Each had 2 hits on the night with Nicewonger driving in 3 and Whanger 1. Marc Boggio, Jacob Garcia, Billy McDaniel and Ryan Karonka also had multiple hits on the night with 2 each. The birds came back from a 6-1 deficit scoring 2 in the 6th, 3 in the 7th and a walkoff in the 8th.

Brent Smerczynski survived a wild 3rd inning where the Pelicans pushed across all 6 of their runs on 2 hits. The lefty finished the night only scattering 5 hits on the night with 4 Ks in a 8 inning complete game extra inning contest.

In game 2 Boggio was stellar on the mound while picking up the win surrendering 1 unearned run on 2 hits before handing the game over to Garcia who closed out the last 2 innings for the save.

Offensively the charge was led by Smerczynski, Boggio and Karonka who each had 2 hits on the night. Rob Carroll, Dustin Harrison, Garcia, McDaniel, Bodie Wilson, Nicewonger and Brade each had hits for the birds as well with Brade smoking a 3 run double in the top of the 6th to add much needed insurance runs.

Championships Series starts next Wednesday at Graham Field with Game 1 at 6:30 and Game 2 immediately after.