Fayetteville Takes Series Over FredNats in Marathon Victory

Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (56-52, 25-19 2nd Half) played their longest game of the regular season on Friday night, winning 13-11 over the Fredericksburg Nationals (67-44, 21-24 2nd Half) in a three hour and 49 minute marathon that saw three ties, five lead changes and 28 combined hits.

The Woodpeckers rallied for four different multi-run innings and grabbed their first lead of the night with a three-run bottom of the fourth. Logan Hughes connected for the two-run go-ahead double and Kevin Alvarez followed with an RBI single for the 5-2 advantage.

Jagger Beck allowed a pair of runs in the first inning, but settled the rest of his start and carried the lead through the top of the fifth. The 19-year-old prospect retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced and struck out six before departing.

Fredericksburg stormed back against Ryan Forcucci in the top of the sixth, scoring six times on four walks and two hits to gather the lead back at 8-6.

Four scored for Fayetteville in the bottom of the sixth, although three runs were unearned due to a critical fielding error at second base by Manuel Cabrera. With two outs and the bases loaded, Kam Durnin bounced a ball to second that got over Cabrera’s shoulder and scored two runs for the 9-9 lead.

The game-deciding rally was generated in the bottom of the eighth inning with the game tied at 10-10. With runners at first and second with one out, Alvarez tucked a sharp liner inside of the left field line that scored Durnin for the 11-10. In the next at bat against Cesar Rojas, Ben Tryon smoked a two-run single into center field to the 13-10 cushion.

One more dramatic sequence was in store in the bottom of the ninth after Tazwell Butler (W, 1-0) allowed a run and had to depart due to pitch limit. The bases were loaded with two outs and third baseman Brandon Nigh (SV, 1) was called upon to pitch and get the final out of the game. Nigh, who pitched in three games at Oakland University in 2025, threw two pitches and got Hunter Hines to ground out to second base to win the game and record a save in his pro pitching debut.

Fayetteville clinched the series Friday with a fourth straight win over the FredNats and remains the first place team in the north division by 1.5 games over Salem and Wilson. The series continues on Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM on Hockey Night with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Woodpeckers are projected to start RHP Adrian Ardines opposite FredNats’ right-hander RJ Sales.

Full Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/827234/final/wrap