Pelicans and Woodpeckers Split Friday’s Doubleheader

By Sam Weiderhaft

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Fayetteville Woodpeckers each won a game in Friday’s doubleheader. The Pelicans took game one 8-6, while the Woodpeckers swiped game two 1-0. Myrtle Beach’s record stands at 61-66 and 32-29 in the second half. The Woodpeckers are now 54-74 and 25-37 in the second half.

Game One: Off the power of a Cameron Sisneros (2-4, HR, 4 RBI) grand slam in the third inning, the Pelicans rolled to an 8-6 victory. Jose Escobar (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) also provided a solo home run and an RBI hit-by-pitch.

In his Pelicans debut, Luis Reyes (1-0) took the win after pitching 1 2/3 innings in relief with two earned runs. Luis Martinez-Gomez closed out the final 1 1/3 innings with no runs allowed and two strikeouts to earn the save.

Fayetteville sparked a late rally with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Trevor Austin (1-4, 2 RBI) led the Woodpeckers with two runs driven in . Nehomar Ochoa Jr. (2-4, RBI) posted a multi-hit game with one RBI.

Starter Yanquiel Sanchez (0-4) took the loss with six earned runs in his 2 2/3 innings while walking four and giving up two hits. Pedro Marquez sacrificed two more earned runs with three walks and three hits allowed in 4 1/3 innings.

Game Two: In a game that saw just four combined hits, the Woodpeckers shut out the Pelicans 1-0. Myrtle Beach’s three hits came from Leonel Espinoza (1-3), Reginald Preciado (1-3), and Carter Trice (1-3). It was the Birds’ 13^th shutout loss of the season.

Connor Schultz (1-2) tossed a complete game with just one earned run off one hit and one walk with four strikeouts to take the loss. It was the first complete game by a Pelicans pitcher this season.

The Woodpeckers' only run and hit came from Rabel Colon (1-1, HR, RBI, BB) on a solo home run in the bottom of the third.

Luis Rodriguez (2-2) stayed out for all seven innings with five strikeouts and no runs allowed to earn the victory.

The Pelicans and Woodpeckers meet on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.