Lynchburg Splits Doubleheader with Nationals

The Lynchburg Hillcats split the doubleheader with the Fredericksburg Nationals on Thursday evening.

The Hillcats (13-11) won the first game 10-7. However, the Nationals (15-10), won the second game by a score of 9-1.

In game one, the Hillcats jumped out to an early lead in the second inning as Jorge Burgos singled home Milan Tolentino to open the scoring. In the next at-bat, Will Bartlett hit his first home run of the season and of the day to open a three-run lead.

In the top of the third, the Nationals would storm right back with four runs of their own to retake the lead, however the Hillcats would match them in the bottom of the inning on a Burgos double that would score two.

Up 5-4, the Hillcats would pile on five more runs in the fourth to extend the lead to 10-4. Isaiah Greene would swipe home on a wild pitch to opening up the scoring in the inning. Milan Tolentino would double down the line to score Dayan Frias. Then, Will Bartlett would continue his strong day at the plate with a two-RBI double to score Tolentino and Burgos.

To cap off the inning, Richard Paz would line a single into left that would score Bartlett to give the Hillcats the six-run lead. Fredericksburg would try to come back but could only muster up three runs. Their comeback was halted by a 1-5-3 double play ball to stifle a big inning.

Game one would end with a score of 10-7.

In game two, it was a much different story. The Hillcats bats went ice cold as they could only scrounge one run off a Will Bartlett’s second home run of the day. He now leads the club with two home runs.

Fredericksburg would score nine over the course of the ballgame, nearly capped off by a Drew Millas home run in the top of the seventh to seal the door shut on the Hillcats.

Game four of the six game series will take place on Friday evening at 6:30 at Bank of the James Stadium.