Woodpeckers End Series With Close 2-1 Defeat to Kannapolis

Fayetteville, NC – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (13-19) battled in a close game on Mother’s Day but were unable to plate the tying or winning runs late in a 2-1 loss to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (18-13) on Sunday afternoon.

Nic Swanson (L, 1-2) delivered his longest start of the season, going 5.1 innings. Swanson was given a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when Ricardo Balogh drove home Zach Cole with an RBI single off of Peyton Pallette.

The lead was short lived come the top of the fourth. Brooks Baldwin doubled with two outs, and Bryce Willits followed in the next at bat with a single that tied the game 1-1. Swanson allowed just three hits, struck out two, and departed the game in the sixth after surrendering a walk to Mario Camilletti. Marshall Hunt entered from the bullpen and allowed the inherited runner to score on an RBI double from Baldwin.

The Woodpeckers were never able to recover offensively, stranding a runner on third base in the seventh and going down in order in the eighth. Jose Nodal kept the game within a run, tossing three scoreless innings of relief.

Carolina League saves leader Billy Seidl (SV, 7) closed the game in the ninth inning to earn his seventh save.

The Woodpeckers will be off on Monday before traveling to Kinston, NC on Tuesday for the start of a six-game road series against the Down East Wood Ducks.

Full Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/728003