Winning Homestand Continues as Woodpeckers Take Third Straight from FredNats

Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (56-52, 24-19 second half) scored early and held off a Fredericksburg National (67-43, 21-23 second half) rally to come away with the 7-4 win Thursday night inside SEGRA Stadium.

The Woodpeckers didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning off Alexander Meckley ( L, 4-4). Waner Luciano got things rolling by doubling to right field that brought two across the plate to make it 2-0.

Fayetteville followed it up in the second with a German Ramirez RBI single to left to make it 3-0. Aaron Piasecki, the eight round pick out of Troy, gave the Woodpeckers a 4-0 lead on an RBI fielder’s choice as Ramirez beat the tag at home.

After being held for five straight scoreless innings, the Nationals got some runs in the top half of the sixth against Ryan Verdugo (W, 6-4). Avery Ortiz, with an RBI fielder’s choice, brought home the first run to make it 4-1. An error on an attempted pickoff from Verdugo brought home another run to cut it to 4-2. Fredericksburg closed in on the Woodpeckers lead with a sacrifice fly from Gavin Fien as the Woodpeckers held on to a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the sixth.

Despite a few blemishes in his outing, Verdugo (W, 6-4) was effective on the mound in his start. He went 5.1 innings allowing just three runs on three hits while striking out six batters and finishing his outing without issuing a walk.

Fayetteville got right back to work with a response in the bottom of sixth. The Woodpeckers brought home three runs on a bases loaded walk, followed by back-to-back wild pitches that brought two more to push the lead out to 7-3 for the Woodpeckers.

Carson Estridge (H, 1) and Brady Thomas, two of the newest Woodpeckers arms came out of the bullpen holding the Nationals scoreless across two innings of work combining for just one hit while issuing two total walks and combining for four strikeouts.

Fredericksburg managed to salvage a run in the top of the eighth with a solo home run from Hunter Hines, but Brandon Cassedy closed things out across the final two frames to secure the win.

The Woodpeckers have taken the first three games of the series and will turn to Jagger Beck for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch tomorrow night. The Nationals pitcher has yet to be determined.