Massive Ten-Run Inning Wins Woodpeckers Championship Opener

Charleston, SC - A massive ten-run rally in the second inning for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers offense promptly broke open the first game of the Carolina League Championship Series on Sunday night at Joseph P. Riley Ballpark and carried them to a lopsided 14-4 victory over the Charleston RiverDogs. The Woodpeckers now return home with a chance to win the Carolina League title on Tuesday night in the best-of-three series.

Fayetteville entered the second inning with a 1-0 lead over Charleston starter Luke Jackson (L, 0-1). Ben Tryon started the giant rally with a leadoff homer deep over the right field wall. Rashawn Galloway followed with a single and Arturo Flores drove him home with a double for the 3-0 lead.

Aaron Piasecki kept things rolling with an RBI single, then Kam Durnin doubled and Logan Hughes reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Kevin Alvarez then connected with a two-run single making it a stretch of seven straight hitters to reach base. Waner Luciano recorded the first out of the inning with a sacrifice-fly, then two more hitters reached on a hit by pitch and single to load the bases for a second time.

Jackson was chased from the game after surrendering six runs, and the Woodpeckers continued to pile on facing Aiden Haugh. Haugh gave up a bases-loaded walk, a sac-fly, and two RBI singles that capped the ten-run onslaught and a 11-0 lead.

Charlie Weber continued pitching after the long break in the dugout and worked four scoreless before surrendering a two-run double to Cooper Flemming in the bottom of the fifth. Fayetteville quickly countered with three more runs in the top of the sixth on a Piasecki RBI double and two-run homer from Durnin.

Two runs scored in the ninth against Brady Thomas before Jank Pichardo recorded the final two outs of the game.

The Woodpeckers will be off on Monday and return to Segra Stadium for game two of the series on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM with starting pitchers TBD.

Full Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/850935/final/box