Bellozo, Ullola Exceptional in Woodpeckers Shutout Win over Down East

Kinston, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (52-72, 21-38) got another outstanding pitching performance on Saturday night at Grainger Stadium that led them to a 7-0 shutout victory over the Down East Wood Ducks (63-62, 30-29). Valente Bellozo and Miguel Ullola silenced the Wood Ducks’ offense to deliver Fayetteville its second shutout of the week.

Bellozo (W, 2-2) allowed just four hits and two walks over five innings to begin the ballgame. He also got Down East to ground into two crucial double plays in the third and fourth innings. Bellozo has not given up a run since August 23 against Charleston.

Ullola (SV, 2) picked up right where Bellozo left off in the sixth and quickly struck out the side in order. He then fanned two more in the seventh before a third double play ended a Wood Ducks scoring threat in the eighth. Ullola finished off the game with two more strikeouts and a pop out to record his second save of the season.

The Woodpeckers offense held up its end of the bargain. Zach Dezenzo opened the scoring with an RBI single that plated Tommy Sacco in the top of the first. In the third, Fayetteville loaded the bases on Down East starter Josh Gessner (L, 2-3) and Jackson Loftin walked to bring home Sacco once again, making it 2-0. Sacco continued his impressive ballgame with a two-out double in the fourth inning. That set the stage for Jacob Melton, who launched a towering fly ball over the fence in left for his fourth home run of the year to double the lead.

The bats went quiet for a bit for the Woodpeckers until the top of the eighth. Melton extended the inning with a two-out walk and Dezenzo came through once again with an RBI single. In the ninth, Zach Cole greeted LHP Dylan MacLean with a solo shot to dead center field for Fayetteville’s sixth run. It was Cole’s first home run in his professional career. Later in the inning, Leosdany Molina brought home Loftin on a sacrifice fly to put a bow on the scoring.

Sunday marks the final road game of 2022 for the Woodpeckers as they look to take the series in Kinston. RHP Tyler Guilfoil gets the start for Fayetteville while RHP Ryan Garcia will try to force a series split for the Ducks. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 ET

FULL BOX SCORE: https://www.milb.com/gameday/669623/final/box