Hillcats Squash Nationals
Lynchburg Wins Third Straight in Six Run Victory over Fredericksburg
Lynchburg, Virginia – The Lynchburg Hillcats pitching staff combined for fifteen strikeouts and Christian Cairo blasted a three-run homer to advance the Hillcats to 3-0 on the year. HOW IT HAPPENED - The ‘Cats tacked on two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs Micah Pries
Lynchburg, Virginia – The Lynchburg Hillcats pitching staff combined for fifteen strikeouts and Christian Cairo blasted a three-run homer to advance the Hillcats to 3-0 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The ‘Cats tacked on two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs Micah Pries earned a walk and was immediately knocked to third thanks to a double up the third base side from Will Bartlett. Both runners came home after a throwing error from Gio Diaz at third making it 2-0 after the first frame.
- Hillcats starter Jordan Jones pitched four scoreless innings and fanned five batters on the mound in his first outing with Lynchburg this year. In the fifth Jones gave up a home run to Fredericksburg centerfielder Landon Dieterich. Two more Nationals baserunners reached with no outs, resulting in the Hillcats going to the bullpen. Lefty Randy Labaut (1-0) entered the game in a jam, with the tying run on the basepaths. The southpaw was at ease, striking out two and forcing a groundout to end the frame with the Hillcats still up 3-1.
- Lynchburg added some cushion in the bottom of the 5th after Micah Pries drove Yordys Valdes home.
- The Hillcats lead ballooned in the bottom of the sixth. Two walks and a fielder’s choice left a pair of runners on with one out for Christian Cairo. The ‘Cats slugger stepped up to the plate and went yard over the left field wall to put Lynchburg up 7-1. Julian Escobedo brought home another run with a stand up double to complete the Hillcats four score frame.
- Fredericksburg added a run in the top of the seventh on two walks and a single with Labaut still pitching, bringing the score to 8-2.
- Hillcats reliever Andrew Misiaszek struckout five batters in the top of the eighth and top of the ninth to seal the Hillcats six run victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Andrew Misiaszek pitched an immaculate inning in the eighth, throwing 9 strikes to retire all three batters.
- The Nationals left seven runners on.
WHO'S NEXT
The Hillcats and the Nationals return to action Friday at 6:30pm from Bank of the James Stadium. Top ranked Indians prospect Josh Wolf will start on the mound for Lynchburg