Schultz Makes Shaky Home Debut as Dash Fall to Grasshoppers 4-3

The Winston-Salem Dash fell 4-3 to the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Saturday night in game five of a six-game set.

All eyes were on Noah Schultz in his first home start for Winston. The 20 year-old southpaw started steady, allowing two hits and striking out one batter through two innings.

Winston-Salem started the scoring in the second inning as D.J. Gladney led off with a double. A wild pitch sent Gladney to third, and he was singled home by Bryce Willits. Willits made it to third on a groundout and touched home on a sac fly to left from Chris Lanzilli, giving the Dash a 2-0 lead.

The third inning gave Schultz a lot of trouble before he was able to settle back in. Schultz walked the first two batters of the inning and allowed a single to Jack Brannigan, which scored Geovanny Planchard. With the bases loaded and the Hoppers behind a run, Noah Schultz hit Termarr Johnson with a fastball and the tying run came home. Greensboro then took the lead 4-2 on 2 RBI double by Rolando Nolasco.

Schultz was able to find some momentum as he struck out the next three batters in a row. Schultz also retired the side in the fourth inning, and totaled seven strikeouts through four innings, allowing four earned runs on as many hits with three walks.

Max Roberts, Garrett Schoenle and Everhett Hazelwood held the Grasshoppers scoreless from then on.

Winston-Salem did get a run back in the sixth. Jacob Gonzalez led off the inning with a single and advanced all the way to third on two passed balls. Bryce Willits hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring him in.

The scoring for Winston-Salem stopped there, and the Grasshoppers went on to take the game 4-3. Greensboro starter J.P. Massey earned his first win. Schultz took the loss. Brandon Bidois earned a save.

The series concludes on Sunday as the Dash will go for the series split. First pitch is at 2 P.M. ET from Truist Stadium.