KANNAPOLIS, NC - The Grasshoppers faced the Kannapolis Intimidators over the weekend, splitting two games with the Intimidators to cap-off a three game series.

The Saturday contest was a classic pitching duel, carrying a 0-0 tie into the ninth inning.

Brad Hand tossed a season-high seven innings to match the efforts of Kannapolis starter Charlie Leesman.  Hand and Leesman each worked seven innings without surrendering a run to keep their respective team in the close ballgame.

Hand registered his best outing of the 2009 season, scattering six hits while striking out four and allowing just one free pass.  He would leave with a no decision, despite holding an opponent scoreless for the first time all year.

After the Hoppers failed to score in their first at-bat of the extra-inning, the Intimidators rallied to plate one run and walk off with a 1-0 victory.

A leadoff single gave Kannapolis a base runner in the 10^th,  while an error in the outfield allowed him to move into scoring position.  A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to third with one out before pinch-hitter Jorge Castillo brought home the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Hoppers forced the split in Sunday's game though, as walks and a costly error helped the Hoppers take the final game of the series by a score of 7-1.

Sunday's game turned into another great pitching matchup, seeing both starters allow just one run to take a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning.  The Hoppers broke the deadlock in the eighth however, taking advantage of five free passes in the inning to move out to a comfortable 7-1 lead.

Ben Lasater got things going with a leadoff single before the Intimidators issued five consecutive walks to plate three Hoppers' runs.  A costly fielding error prolonged the inning and allowed two more runs to score, seeing the Hoppers collect six total runs to capture the lead by taking the games' momentum.

Lefty Wade Korpi (2-2) took the win in relief, working 2 1/3 innings while allowing just one hit.  Korpi and fellow lefty Andrew Loomis combined to toss the final 3 1/3 innings, shutting the door on the Intimidators and locking up the weekend split for the Hoppers.

The Grasshoppers (31-30) return home tomorrow to host a four-game set with the Hickory Crawdads.  The series will get under way when the Hoppers and Crawdads square off for a double-header, with the second seven-inning game to begin immediately following the first contest.

First pitch of game one is scheduled for 5:05 p.m., gates open at 4:30 p.m.