Bats Wake Up, Pitching Falters in Loss to Pelicans

The Lynchburg Hillcats dropped the final game of the series to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Sunday afternoon by a score of 12-8.

After several nights of quiet bats, each team came to life to put runs on the board. Yet, every time the Hillcats pulled closer, the Pelicans would have a response.

Jacob Wetzel would give them the lead with a three-run home run in the first inning. Lynchburg would push back in the second on a Robert Lopez base hit, and again in the third due to a fielding error.

The fourth inning would belong to the Pelicans as they would scratch across four runs in the span of the frame. An error by Ralphy Velazquez and a few easy base hits put the Pelicans on top 7-2.

Robert Lopez would take a run back with a solo shot in the fourth inning, his first of the year. In the sixth, a double steal would make it 7-4 as Wuilfredo Antunez would slide around the tag at the plate. Velazquez would also pick up an RBI on a base hit, but a trailing runner would get gunned down at home to end the frame.

With Lynchburg now down two, Alfonsin Rosario would smack a three-run shot to left to put the Pelicans in front 10-5. The Hillcats would scratch across a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning with three straight doubles to open their half. Angel Genao and Antunez would each pick up RBI’s in the streak.

Myrtle Beach picked up two more solo shots in the eighth and ninth. Drew Bowser and Reginald Preciado each picked up their first big fly of the season, moving the score to 12-7.

Lopez would tack on one more RBI in the bottom of the ninth, his third of the day, with an easy single to center. However, Lynchburg would be unable to get any closer, losing 12-8.

Lynchburg will remain at home to take on the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers with a six-game series starting on Tuesday. Tickets for all the games are available at Lynchburg-hillcats.com.