Big First Inning Not Enough for Fayetteville Sunday Afternoon
North Augusta, SC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (5-10) scored three runs in the first inning but could not slow down the Augusta GreenJackets’ (7-8) bats as Augusta took the final game of the series Sunday afternoon at SRP Park, 6-5. Despite the defeat, Fayetteville picked up its first series split
North Augusta, SC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (5-10) scored three runs in the first inning but could not slow down the Augusta GreenJackets’ (7-8) bats as Augusta took the final game of the series Sunday afternoon at SRP Park, 6-5. Despite the defeat, Fayetteville picked up its first series split of 2022 after dropping each of their first two.
The Woodpeckers got going offensively quickly in this one. With runners at the corners and two outs in the top of the first, Joey Loperfido drove a two-strike pitch the other way for an RBI double to make it 1-0 Fayetteville. The next batter was Kenedy Corona, who lined a fastball up the middle to bring home Tyler Whitaker and Loperfido and extend the early lead to 3-0.
Augusta cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third after Woodpeckers starter Nic Swanson was lifted for Freylin Garcia. Caleb Durbin ripped an RBI double off the wall in center field to get the GreenJackets on the board. Moments later, Durbin sprinted home on a Garcia wild pitch to bring the score to 3-2.
The GreenJackets continued to hit their way back into the game in the fifth. Stephen Paolini brought in the tying run on a fielder’s choice. Then Brandol Mezquita grounded one to third to drive in Geraldo Quintero and give Augusta their first lead of the game, 4-3. The Woodpeckers, however, got that run right back. In the top of the sixth, Corona got to second base on an error and Victor Mascai singled to right to bring him in and evened the score.
Both teams were looking for a big hit late and the GreenJackets got it in the bottom of the eighth. With two strikes and two outs, Durbin came up clutch once again and snuck a single up the middle against RHP Fabricio Reina (L, 0-2) to score two and power Augusta ahead, 6-4.
Fayetteville made things interesting in the top of the ninth against RHP Rob Griswold (W, 1-1). Cody Orr was hit by a pitch and Logan Cerny singled to left to put runners at first and third with nobody out. A double play allowed Orr to come home and cut it to 6-5, but Griswold was able to get Whitaker to fly out to right field to end the ballgame.
The Woodpeckers will have Monday off before opening up a six-game series at Segra Stadium Tuesday night against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. The two teams opened 2022 with a three-game series in Kannapolis in which the Cannon Ballers took all three contests. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 EST Tuesday night with both teams’ probable starting pitchers TBD.