In game three of a four-game tilt against Lynchburg, Fayetteville fell for the fifth time in the last six tries to start a losing skid at home. The Woodpeckers offense managed eight hits but left 15 runners stranded in the 4-3 loss. Hillcats' Austen Wade went yard in the top
In game three of a four-game tilt against Lynchburg, Fayetteville fell for the fifth time in the last six tries to start a losing skid at home. The Woodpeckers offense managed eight hits but left 15 runners stranded in the 4-3 loss. Hillcats' Austen Wade went yard in the top of the fourth and Oscar Gonzalez continued his hot streak with a 2-RBI double in the next inning that ultimately cemented the Lynchburg Wednesday night victory.
The Woodpeckers kicked off the first inning by drawing three walks in a row against Hillcats' starter Nick Gallagher. Fayetteville DH Michael Papierski scored the first run of the game on an error from catcher Mike Rivera that also allowed Jacob Meyers to reach. Meyers, Jake Adams, and Corey Julks were all left on base to end the inning with the Woodpeckers taking a slight 1-0 lead. Gallagher pitched two scoreless innings after the first, finishing the night allowing just one run despite walking a career high six batters through just three frames of work.
Woodpeckers starter Enoli Parades (1-1) was stellar through the first three innings, facing just one over the minimum. However, Hillcats' Austen Wade put a blemish on the outing to start the fourth with a solo shot that knotted the game up at one. That was just the second bomb Parades has allowed this season, both of which were at Segra Stadium. In the top of the fifth, Tommy Dejuneas came in to relieve Paredes after the Woodpeckers hurler allowed Lynchburg to load the bases with two outs. Dejuneas in his tenth appearance this year, walked the first batter he faced in Nolan Jones to bring home Wilbis Santiago and put the Hillcats up 2-1. The walk, of course, loaded the bases again for Oscar Gonzalez who immediately knocked a two-bagger that scored Luke Wakamatsu and Austin Wade and gave Lynchburg a 4-1 lead. The Hillcats' slugger now has four RBIs in the last two games alone.
Lynchburg sent out four relievers to try and secure their second straight victory at Segra Stadium. Hillcats' Johnathan Teaney gave up a score in the bottom of the fifth after Johnathan Arauz blasted a two-run double that sent Jacob Meyers home and put the Woodpeckers within two after five innings. Fayetteville tried to continue their rally going into the sixth but Lynchburg's submariner Robert Broom (1-0) pitched two innings of scoreless ball, sustaining the 2-run lead for the Hillcats.
Lynchburg righty Jared Robinson picked up where Broom left off in the bottom of the eighth, striking out two Woodpeckers in a row and retiring the side without an issue. The Woodpeckers needed a walk-off to rally for a win going into the ninth against Robinson. It looked promising at first for Fayetteville as Colton Shaver led off with a single and then came home on a two-out RBI base hit from Scott Manea. However, Robinson sealed the win by striking out Alfredo Angarita to end the game and give the Hillcats a one-run victory.
The Woodpeckers now trail the four game series with the Hillcats 2-to-1. Fayetteville is now a game above .500 at 14-13, meanwhile Lynchburg moves to 15-12 on the season. The Woodpeckers have a chance to even the series in the finale tomorrow. The Thirsty Thursday showdown against the Hillcats starts at 7:00pm.
