The Firebirds jumped out to a 5-0 first inning lead and held off a furious Braves charge to win 8-7 at Town Field.  Dillon Nelson started the scoring with a booming RBI triple to right center, scoring Matthew Schneider.  Ryan Kish capped the scoring with a clutch 2 RBI single in the 4th, giving him 3 RBIs for the night.  Other notable plate performances were turned in by Quentin Dagostini, Jakob Paquette, and John Crawford who all reached base in every plate appearance.  Quentin also stole 4 bases and scored the decisive run.

The Firebirds hurlers also turned in a stellar performance, only issuing 3 walks in 4 innings.  Trent Shoemaker started and chalked up his first 2011 win striking out 2 in his inning of work, Masen Kruchten continued his strong spring and induced a big double play in the 2nd, Dillon Nelson turned in a strong first outing of the spring, and Quentin Dagostini nailed it shut with his first save of the spring, striking out four (!) batters in his inning of work due to a freak play that a Braves batter reached base after the 3rd strike was dropped and the subsequent throw to 1st caromed off the batter's helmet.