Fayetteville, N.C. - The Fredericksburg Nationals dropped their third game in a row, falling 7-4 in game three of the series against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
It was a tough start to the game. After quickly going down in order in the top of the 1st, RHP Alexander Meckley gave up a leadoff single and walk in the bottom of the 1st. Fayetteville’s clean up hitter Waner Luciano continued his red hot streak, crushing a double into the right center gap to plate both runners and make it 2-0. In the bottom of the 2nd, Meckley allowed two more runs against the bottom of the order to go down 4-0.
The score held at 4-0 until the 6th inning. Woodpeckers starter Ryan Verdugo was just one over the minimum through the first five innings. The FredNats finally broke through though, getting back to back hits from Dashyll Tejeda and Manny Cabrera. Avery Ortiz then got his first professional RBI on a fielder choice, a run scored on an error, and Gavin Fien hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-3. Fayetteville responded right away though in the bottom of the 6th, scoring three runs on five walks and no hits to make it 7-3.
The FredNats would get a run back in the top of the 8th. Hunter Hines blasted a ball out of the park in right center for his 4th home run in five games. He extended his extra base hit streak to a Carolina League best nine games.
Hines’s homer wasn’t enough though, as the FredNats fall 7-4. Its the third loss in a row to start the series. The FredNats will look to get back on track tomorrow with the starting pitcher TBD. Fayetteville’s probable starter is RHP Jagger Beck. First pitch from Segra Stadium is set for 7:05 PM.