The crack of bats Saturday was music to the ears of Coquitlam Reds head coach Kyle Williams.
The Reds exploded for 14 runs in a B.C. Premier Baseball League doubleheader sweep over the Victoria Mariners at sunny Mundy Park.
The 6-1 and 8-4 victories moved the Reds back over .500 since they started the season at 4-1 and improved their fifth-place record to 11-9 -- seven games back of the first-place Langley Blaze, who sit 20-4.
"The biggest change is we have a bunch of hitters who have heated up," Williams told The Tri-City News. "I also think the weather makes a big difference with the bats. The ball carries better in the warm air and hitters just feel more comfortable."
In the opener, Brandon Becking rallied the Reds' attack with two hits and two RBI. Pitcher Brett Snowball allowed only two hits over five innings to earn the win, as the Reds erupted for four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take command.
In the nightcap, Reds' hitters exploded for 14 hits and broke open a 2-2 tie by notching five runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Tyler Yorko lashed four hits and scored a pair of runs to lead the Reds, while Max Hollingworth drilled three hits and knocked in a pair of runs.
Jordan Zuzulak, Darren Honeysett and Taylor Lawrence added a pair of hits apiece for Coquitlam, with Curtis Taylor throwing a complete-game six-hit win over the 11-6 Mariners.
The Reds host the 16-4 Okanagan Athletics tomorrow (Saturday) at 3:30 p.m. at Mundy, followed by an 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. twinbill Sunday at home versus the same Interior crew.
