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Squirrels, Senators split Saturday doubleheader

Richmond powers to 8-2 win in first game before falling in nightcap, 6-1
By Trey Wilson
July 20, 2025

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels posted an eight-run fourth inning to beat the Harrisburg Senators, 8-2, in the first game of Saturday night’s doubleheader before falling, 6-1, in the nightcap.

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels posted an eight-run fourth inning to beat the Harrisburg Senators, 8-2, in the first game of Saturday night’s doubleheader before falling, 6-1, in the nightcap.

The Flying Squirrels (33-54-1, 12-8 second half) are now 9-2 in their last 11 games. They will aim to take the series against the Senators (42-46, 8-11) in Sunday’s rubber match.

In the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Flying Squirrels scored eight runs in the fourth inning to beat the Senators, 8-2.

The Flying Squirrels reached base five times in the first three innings but were kept scoreless by Senators starter Kyle Luckham (Loss, 4-6) until the fourth.

Scott Bandura, making his Double-A debut, led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Carter Howell. Adrian Sugastey worked a walk to load the bases with no outs.

Sabin Ceballos followed with a three-run double to left-center, opening a 3-0 Flying Squirrels lead.

After a walk and a hit batter, Luckham was removed with the bases loaded and one out. On the first pitch by reliever Luke Young, Victor Bericoto belted a grand slam to open a 7-0 lead.

It was the 30th home run for Bericoto in his Flying Squirrels career, tying him with Jarrett Parker for the third-most in franchise history.

Later in the inning, Bandura hit a solo homer to right to cap the eight-run frame.

Richmond starter Jack Choate allowed one hit over four scoreless innings with five strikeouts. He was replaced in the fifth by Dylan Hecht (Win, 1-0), who allowed a single and two walks to load the bases but struck out three in the frame to escape the jam.

Cayden Wallace closed the score to 8-2 with a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning.

Bandura went 3-for-4 with a homer and scored twice. Ceballos, Bericoto and Turner Hill all had two hits.

The Senators piled 13 hits to claim a 6-1 win over the Flying Squirrels in the second game of the doubleheader.

Maxwell Romero Jr. gave the Senators a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning with an RBI single against Richmond starter Evan Gates (Loss, 2-1).

Harrisburg scored four runs in the third on five hits to open a 5-0 lead. Cayden Wallace hit a two-run double, Branden Boissiere drove in a run with a double and Delino DeShields Jr. added an RBI single.

With two outs and a runner at first in the bottom of the third, Victor Bericoto hit an RBI double against Dustin Saenz and cut the deficit to 5-1. Bericoto finished the doubleheader with five RBIs.

Harrisburg relievers Samuel Vasquez (Win, 1-0) and Erick Mejia combined for four scoreless innings and allowed two baserunners.

Kevin Made extended the Senators’ lead to 6-1 in the top of the seventh with an RBI single.

The series concludes on Sunday night at The Diamond. Left-hander Seth Lonsway (3-7, 3.31) will start for Richmond countered by Harrisburg right-hander Hyun-il Choi (4-2, 4.06). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

Sunday is Yacht Rock Night as part of the Summer Music Series at The Diamond featuring a pregame performance by Three Sheets to the Wind. The first 1,000 fans ages 15 and older will receive a Flying Squirrels Captain’s Hat presented by Pepsi. It is also Sunday Summer Sips featuring $12 25-ounce Surfside cans, $11 25-ounce Stella cans and $13 32-ounce Shock Top & Stone Brewing drafts.

Tickets are on sale online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.