The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-4) and the Charleston RiverDogs (2-3) played game two from Segra Stadium on Wednesday night. Nick Potter was on the mound for Fayetteville against Alex Wallace of Charleston.
At the top of the first inning, Charleston second baseman Dean Moss hit a double to left field. Two batters later, first baseman Taitn Gray hit a two-run home run to right field to give the RiverDogs a 2-0 lead.
Fayetteville starter Nick Potter pitched three innings, allowing two hits, two runs, and four strikeouts, throwing 39 pitches, of which 28 were strikes.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, third baseman Xavier Neyens worked a four-pitch walk. He stole second base, and a throwing error allowed him to run to third base. Then, second baseman Nick Monistere hit an RBI double to center field. Neyens scored, and the Woodpeckers trailed the RiverDogs 2-1. Monistere stole third base, but Anthony Huezo and Josh Wakefield could not bring him home, and the inning was over.
Kellan Oakes was the new pitcher for Fayetteville. At the top of the sixth inning, Charleston had a runner on first base when shortstop Cooper Flemming hit an RBI single to center field. Caden Bodine scored for a 3-1 lead. First baseman Taitn Gray followed up with an RBI single to center field, scoring Flemming for a 4-1 lead.
With two outs, a flyout by Brendan Summerhill to center field ended the inning. Oakes pitched three innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one walk, and three strikeouts, throwing 52 pitches, of which 35 were strikes.
Moving to the bottom of the seventh inning, Fayetteville had the bases loaded when first baseman Nehomar Ochoa Jr. hit a two-run single to right field. Josh Wakefield and Arturo Flores scored, and a throwing error by Charleston right field Derek Datil scored Kenni Gomez, and the game was tied 4-4.
Right fielder Kevin Alvarez hit the ball to shortstop Cooper Flemming. A throwing error by Flemming allowed Ochoa Jr. to score, and the Woodpeckers took a 5-4 lead. Xavier Neyens grounded out, and the inning was over.
At the top of the eighth inning, Fayetteville pitcher Leomar Rosario loaded the bases. A bulk call on Rosario brought home Caden Bodine, and a sacrifice fly by Taitn Gray put the RiverDogs back up 6-5. Rosario pitched one inning, with one walk and one strikeout, throwing 19 pitches, of which nine were strikes. Jose Varela pitched two innings for Fayetteville. He allowed two hits, two runs, one walk, and one strikeout, throwing 35 pitches, of which 22 were strikes.
Fayetteville had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Designated hitter Anthony Huezo hit a triple to center field. Center fielder Josh Wakefield hit into a fielder’s choice where Charleston shortstop Cooper Flemming threw the ball to catcher Caden Bodine to get Huezo out at home plate.
Josh Wakefield stole second base and went to third base after a throwing error by Caden Bolden. Fayetteville catcher Arturo Flores worked a four-pitch walk. A pop-out by Kenni Gomez ended the inning. Fayetteville was unable to make a comeback, and they dropped game two to the Charleston RiverDogs by the final score of 6-5.
Fayetteville finished the night with three hits, went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base. Nehomar Ochoa Jr. went 1 for 3 with a single and two RBIs. The loss went to Fayetteville pitcher Jose Varela, while the win went to Charleston pitcher Trey Pooser, and Bryce Shaffer earned the save.
The Woodpeckers and RiverDogs play game three on Thursday at 6:35 pm on the MLB App.
