Walk off homer downs Winston-Salem in game four against Aberdeen

ABERDEEN, MD (June 30, 2023) — The Winston-Salem Dash fell 5-3 in walk-off fashion against the Aberdeen IronBirds in game four of a six-game road set Friday night.

The IronBirds opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Winston-Salem righty Connor McCullough fanned the first two batters of the frame, but Jacob Teter launched a solo shot to right-center in the next at-bat to put Aberdeen up 1-0.

The Dash came storming back in the top of the third as Andy Atwood led things off with a triple. Taishi Nakawake drove in Atwood via a sacrifice fly to knot the score, but Winston-Salem wasn’t done just yet. Jacob Burke was able to score on a throwing error, and Wilfred Veras then drove in DJ Gladney with a sacrifice fly to give the Dash a 3-1 advantage.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth, Aberdeen was able to cut into Winston-Salem’s lead. Silas Ardoin popped a single to right field to drive in a run and pull the IronBirds within 1.

In the ensuing frame, the IronBirds found the tying run. Everhett Hazelwood replaced McCullough on the mound and couldn’t escape a two-out jam with runners on the corners. Ryan Higgins singled to right to drive in the tying run for the IronBirds, and the 3-3 score line would hold until the ninth.

After six scoreless innings for the Dash, Aberdeen was able to break through in the bottom of the ninth. With one out and a runner on second, MLB’s No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday clubbed a walk-off bomb to right center, securing the IronBirds’ 5-3 game four victory.

Tristan Stivors was charged with the loss after giving up the shot to Holliday, and Aberdeen’s Ryan Hennen picked up the win. The Dash are back in action Saturday night against the IronBirds in game five. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. from Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.