Hillcats Beat FredNats

Lynchburg, Virginia– Jaime Arias became just the second starter to go six innings and the Lynchburg Hillcats (29-30) left just one runner on to secure a 7-5 game one win over the Fredericksburg Nationals (19-42).

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The FredNats got on the board first in the top of the second when Onix Vega smashed a home run to center field off ‘Cats starter Jaime Arias (4-2). Nationals’ first baseman Kevin Strohschein followed with a double putting the Nationals second run of the game in scoring position. However, a heads up play on a groundout to Miguel Jerez back to home to catcher Yainer Diaz, stopped Strohschein from scoring and kept the Fredericksburg lead just 1-0.
• The Nationals tacked on two more runs in the top of third, thanks to another big hit by Onix Vega. The Nationals’ catcher smacked a double to right field, scoring a pair and extending the FredNats lead to 3-0.
• The Hillcats finally got on the board in the bottom of the third when Lynchburg’s Christian Cairo went yard for the first time since the team’s opening series. The homer on FredNats starter Karlo Seijas cut the FredNats lead to two.
• Arias held the Nationals scoreless in the top of the fourth, leaving room for Lynchburg to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back hits from Angel Martinez and Yainer Diaz scored run number two for Lynchburg, with the tying run coming home on a sacrifice fly from Cody Farhat making it a 3-3 game.
• The FredNats grabbed the lead back right away in the top of the fifth inning when Ricardo Mendez smoked a triple off the wall in right field. A fielder’s choice scored the run and put Fredericksburg up 5-4.
• Arias went three up, three down in the top of the sixth, completing the second longest outing of a Hillcats starter on the year. The lefty fanned six batters in and walked just two.
• The ‘Cats finally took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Yainer Diaz and Cody Farhat both went yard on solo shots to give Lynchburg a 5-4 lead.
• Hillcats reliever Cade Smith retired all six batters he faced, striking out three and holding the FredNats scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings.
• Both Farhat and Diaz picked up RBI number three in the bottom of the eighth innings, giving Lynchburg three insurance runs heading into the top of the ninth.
• The Hillcats sent out reliever Andrew Misiaszek to close out the game with a run coming through on a misplayed fly out, but the Northeastern product locked in a solidified 7-5 FredNats victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Hillcats remain undefeated at home against the FredNats with a 7-0 record at Bank of the James Stadium.
• Diaz’s three hit night was his fourth on the season.

WHO'S NEXT

The Hillcats look for win number two against the Nationals in game two at 6:30p.m from Bank of the James Stadium.