RiverDogs scissor 5-game losing skid

HICKORY, N.C. -- Luke Murton and Taylor Grote homered for Charleston; and Shaeffer Hall earned his first South Atlantic League victory, as the RiverDogs avoided a four-game sweep and broke a five-game losing streak in a 6-3 victory over Hickory in front of 1,616 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Friday evening.

The RiverDogs improved to 6-10, while Hickory fell to 8-8

Charleston took a 3-0 lead in the second against Joe Wieland (0-2) on Jimmy Paredes' RBI single off the glove of third baseman Matt West and Kelvin Perez's bases-loaded two-run single to center field.

Hall ran into trouble in the bottom of the third with two outs and the bases loaded, but struck out Miguel Velazquez looking to end the threat. Velazquez argued the called third strike and was ejected from the contest.

Hickory would not break through against Hall (1-0) until the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Leury Garcia reduced the deficit to 3-1.

Grote increased the lead to 4-1 for the RiverDogs in the sixth, connecting on his first home run of the season with a shot over the right-field fence.

Hickory cut the score to 4-3 in the sixth on a two-out, two-run double by Zach Zaneski, which chased Hall from the contest after 5 2/3 innings. However, Ronny Marte only needed three pitches to strike out Edwin Garcia to end the inning.

Murton responded for Charleston in the seventh with his third home run of the year -- all during the eight-game road trip -- off Kyle Ocampo for a 5-3 Charleston advantage.

Former South Carolina Gamecock DeAngelo Mack delivered a RBI single with two outs in the eighth to expand the lead to 6-3.

Hall earned his first win of the year allowing three runs -- one earned -- on six hits with two walks and three punchouts. Marte, Mike Solbach and Ryan Flannery threw a combined 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, with Flannery earning his fourth save in a flawless ninth.

Wieland lasted just three innings in his second defeat of the year, surrendering three runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

The RiverDogs belted a season-high 13 base hits, led by the Murton and Grote home runs. Rob Lyerly went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Charleston returns to Riley Park today to begin an eight-game homestand.

, first hosting the Rome Braves for a four-game series. Former Clemson Tiger Graham Stoneburner (0-2, 2.65 ERA) gets the start.