Sky Carp sweep doubleheader from Nuts

BELOIT, Wisc. – The Beloit Sky Carp (16-27) received strong starts from Dax Fulton and Evan Fitterer in taking both games of a doubleheader from the Lansing Lugnuts (16-27), 5-1 and 3-0, on Friday night at ABC Supply Stadium.

The Sky Carp have won the first four games of the series.

In Game 1, Fulton struck out seven while limiting the Nuts to four hits and one run in five innings, with Lansing’s only offense coming on a Gabriel Maciel triple and a Sahid Valenzuela RBI single in the fifth.

A three-double, four-run Beloit fourth inning provided the difference, capped by a Victor Mesa, Jr. two-run double off reliever Diego Granado.

Lugnuts starter Stevie Emanuels was charged with five runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out one, in 3 2/3 innings. Granado pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and one walk.

Fitterer topped Fulton in Game 2 with six scoreless innings, striking out six while allowing three hits and two walks. Jackson Rose followed with a perfect seventh, completing the three-hit shutout.

Lansing starting pitcher Mac Lardner pitched a season high four innings, but committed a throwing error in the third inning that led to the only runs of the game, a three-run rally climaxed by a Will Banfield two-run homer. Joe DeMers followed Emanuels with two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.

In defeat, Lawrence Butler went 2-for-3 with two singles and Matt Cross went 1-for-3 with a double.

Former Michigan Wolverine Blake Beers, the Athletics’ 19th-round selection in 2021, makes his Lugnuts debut on Saturday at 7:35 p.m. Eastern, 6:35 p.m. local, facing southpaw Zach King (2.84 ERA) in the fifth game of the six-game series.

The Lugnuts conclude the series on Sunday, returning to Jackson® Field™ on Tuesday, May 31, to open up a six-game homestand against the Minnesota Twins-affiliated Cedar Rapids Kernels.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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