GREENSBORO – Ben Lasater’s long home run in the bottom of the 10th inning propelled the Greensboro Grasshoppers to a 6-5 win over the Greenville Drive before a record Opening Night crowd Thursday night.   

The attendance of 9,322 was the biggest for an opening game in the five-year history of NewBridge Bank Park.

The Hoppers trailed for much of the night before rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game 5-5. Kevin Mattison and Paul Gran had RBI singles and Jeremy Synan drove in the tying run with a double.

The tie lasted until the 10th. The third Drive pitcher of the night, Felix Ventura, retired the first batter he faced before Lasater blasted a pitch far over the hill in left field. He was greeted by a joyous group of teammates at the plate.

Greensboro pounded out 12 hits, including seven doubles. Synan had a pair of two-base hits, while Lasater, Brandon Turner, Kyle Skipworth, Isaac Galloway and Gran had one each.

Lasater picked up an RBI with his double in the bottom of the first, scoring Synan. Daniel Petrusati singled home a run in the fourth inning.

The Drive jumped on Hoppers starter Johnny Dorn in the first inning, with former North Carolina catcher Tim Federowicz bashing a three-run homer. Ryan Lavernway added a solo homer in the second inning and Anthony Rizzo had a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Hoppers relievers Bryan Evans, Pete Andrelczyk and Jared Yecker combined to throw five shutout innings. Andrelczyk got out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the eighth inning with a strikeout and a groundout. Yecker retired the side in order in the top of the 10th and picked up the win.

The teams play the second game of the series Friday at 7:05 p.m.