Woodpeckers Drop Marathon 12-Inning Game in Return Home

Fayetteville, NC – After two weeks on the road the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (25-33) played 12 innings on Tuesday night in their return to Segra Stadium, ultimately coming up short 4-3 to the Columbia Fireflies (Single-A Royals) (33-25) in the series opener. The loss ended a six-game winning streak over the past week that tied a franchise record.

The contest entered extras 2-2 and remained level through the tenth and eleventh innings. Both offenses left the bases loaded in the tenth, and proceeded to leave one runner on the eleventh. Jeremy Molero and Deury Carrasco (L, 3-3) teamed up to toss the pair of shutout frames, pulling Fayetteville into its first 12-inning game since Opening Day of 2022.

With Carrasco still on the mound in the top of the 12th, Columbia plated the free runner with a one-out sacrifice fly from Austin Charles, then grabbed a 4-2 lead with a two-out grounder to second that was bobbled and scored Brett Squires from third.

Down by the largest margin of the night, the Woodpeckers scratched across one run in the bottom of the 12th on a Sandro Gaston RBI fielder’s choice that scored John Garcia. With the tying run at second base, Zach Cole struck out facing Wesley Scott (SV, 1) to end the game.

Fayetteville never led in the game, but overcame a pair of one-run deficits over the first eight innings to force extra baseball. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Leosdany Molina hit a leadoff single, stole second and made it to third on a wild pitch. Molina scored off a Gaston ground ball to third that drew an errant throw from Austin Charles. Down again 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Cole cracked a double to right field and scored in the next at bat on a Jackson Loftin sacrifice fly.

The Woodpeckers pitching staff stuck out a total of 20 hitters, the second most in a game this season. Starting pitcher Alimber Santa struck out seven and was lifted from the game in the fourth due to six walks and a rising pitch count. Nolan DeVos dazzled out of the bullpen, setting down the first eleven batters he faced while also striking out seven.

The series continues on Wednesday night at Segra Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. Fayetteville is projected to start RHP Amilcar Chirinos (0-1, 5.19 ERA) and Columbia will counter with RHP Ben Kudrna (4-3, 3.94 ERA).

FULL BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/727991/final/box