Woodies Start w/ a W!

4/5 Game Recap

By: Maddy Meehan

The Down East Wood Ducks kicked off their season at home with game one against the Lynchburg Hillcats. The Hillcats stranded one baserunner, while the Woodies went three up and three down to end the first. Lynchburg started off the second inning with a stolen base and then ended up leaving the runner stranded. The Woodies started to get hot, with a double from Julian Brock, followed by Figuereo and Lopez being walked to load the bases. With a Specht single, Brock and Figuereo were able to score, putting the Wood Ducks up 2-0. Lynchburg came back in the 3^rd scoring on a fly ball to center and an error by Wood Ducks shortstop (Vargas), tying the game 2-2.

While Lynchburg fell flat in the fourth, the Woodies were hot! Brock led off the inning with a single, followed by a Figuereo walk. With a sacrifice fly from Lopez runners advanced into scoring position, allowing both to score off a Disla single. The Wood Ducks finished the inning with a pass ball, putting the Ducks up 5-2. Hillcats reached on an error by the Wood Ducks second baseman (Cueva) in the top of the 5th. Chourio hit a single down the first base line scoring one. The Woodies left a baserunner stranded and the Hillcats cut the lead to 5-3. The start of the 6^th inning, Lynchburg left two baserunners stranded, while the Woodies went three up, three down.

It was a quiet 7^th inning, aside from a diving catch from the Wood Ducks centerfielder, Marcus Smith. Lynchburg scored on sacrifice fly in the 8^th inning, followed by an error, by the Wood Ducks shortstop (Vargas). The Wood Ducks were able to get out of the inning due to Lopez throwing a runner out at second. Cueva led off the Wood Ducks with a single, followed by a triple from Brock. Disla was then hit by a pitch, and then a pass ball scoring another run. Putting the Wood Ducks up 7-4 at the bottom of the 8^th. The Hillcats tried to come back in the 9^th with a two-run homerun by Knapczyk, but ultimately Lynchburg stranded two, with back-to-back strikeouts.

Clemmey earned the loss after pitching 3.1 innings with 4 hits, and 5 strikeouts for Lynchburg. Lobus was awarded the win for the Wood Ducks (1.0 IP, 1 H and 1 K), and Savage captured the save (1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 K). The notable hitter for the Wood Ducks tonight was the designated hitter, Julian Brock with 4 at bats, 3 hits, and 1 RBI.

The Wood Ducks host the Lynchburg Hillcats for game 2 tomorrow at Historic Grainger Stadium located in Kinston, North Carolina. First pitch is set for 5:00 pm. There will be a magnet schedule giveaway before the game sponsored by Bojangles and WNCT 9. Gates open at 4:00 pm. Fans can purchase tickets on woodducksbaseball.com, by calling the Wood Ducks Team Offices at (252) 686-5164 or in person at the Wood Ducks Team Offices located at Grainger Stadium.