Sluggish Start Costs Fayetteville in First Loss to Hill City

Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (51-48, 19-15 2nd Half) stayed in the game for all nine innings on Saturday night but never completed the full comeback after surrendering four runs in the first frame to the Hill City Howlers (43-58, 12-23 2nd Half) in an eventual 10-8 loss at Segra Stadium. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak, however Fayetteville remains the first place team in the north division going into Sunday.

Javier Perez surrendered four runs in the top of the first inning, although only two were unearned due to a pair of catcher’s interference calls. Four more Hill City runs crossed in the top of the fourth, and a sacrifice fly in the fifth from Reiner Herrera opened up the Howlers largest lead of the night at 9-2.

Fayetteville’s lineup continued to chip away at the deficit for the rest of the night. Three scored in the home fifth on an infielder throwing error, an RBI fielder’s choice and an RBI single from debuting catcher Luis De Leon. Waner Luciano singled home a run in the sixth, and Brandon Nigh made it 10-7 with an RBI double to the left field corner in the seventh.

Juan Sierra provided the last run of the comeback try with a single to left field that scored Kevin Alvarez after his triple. Connor Whittaker (SV, 2) held the 10-8 score the rest of the way, working around a one-out single in the ninth to lock up the save.

The series concludes on Sunday night with first pitch scheduled at 5:05 PM at Segra Stadium. Fayetteville is scheduled to start RHP Charlie Weber for the finale opposite Hill City’s RHP Erigaldi Perez.

Full Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/827239/final/wrap