The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (12-20) and the Wilson Warbirds (15-17) played game five on Saturday night from Segra Stadium. Ryan Forcucci was on the mound for Fayetteville against Enderson Mercado of Wilson.
At the top of the first inning, Wilson had the bases loaded when Juan Ortuno grounded into a forceout at third base. Handelfry Encarnacion scored for a 1-0 lead. With two outs, a flyout by Luis Lameda ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Fayetteville had runners on first and second base when Nehomar Ochoa Jr. hit an RBI double to center field. Xavier Neyens scored, and the game was tied 1-1. Later, Fayetteville had runners on the corners when a balk was called on Mercado. Ochoa Jr. scored for a 2-1 lead. A groundout by Camilo Diaz ended the inning.
Ryan Forcucci pitched three innings, allowing one hit, one run, three walks, and one strikeout, throwing 47 pitches, of which 20 were strikes. Cole MacRae was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the fourth inning.
At the top of the fifth inning, Wilson had a runner on third base when Brady Ebel grounded out to second base. Jadyn Fielder scored, and the game was tied 2-2. MacRae struck out Jose Anderson to end the inning.
At the top of the sixth inning, Wilson had a runner on second base when Pedro Ibarguen hit a two-run home run to left field, giving the Warbirds a 4-2 lead. With two outs, MacRae struck out Yannic Walther to end the inning. Cole MacRae pitched three innings, allowing three hits, three runs, two walks, and two strikeouts, throwing 59 pitches, of which 33 were strikes.
Jose Varela was the new pitcher for Fayetteville at the top of the seventh inning. Wilson had runners on the corners when a balk was called on Varela, scoring Jadyn Fielder for a 5-2 lead. Frederi Montero hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Brady Ebel for a 6-2 lead.
Varela was called on another balk, scoring Jose Anderson for a 7-2 lead. Wilson third baseman Luis Lameda hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Frederi Montero for an 8-2 lead. With two outs, a pop-out by Pedro Ibarguen ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Fayetteville had a runner on second base when Nehomar Ochoa Jr. hit an RBI single to center field. Xavier Neyens scored, and it was now 8-3. With two outs, Anthony Huezo struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Fayetteville had runners on second and third base when catcher Yosweld Vasquez hit a two-run double to center field. Camilo Diaz and German Ramirez scored, and the Woodpeckers cut the deficit to 8-5. With two outs, Xavier Neyens flies out to left field, and the inning was over.
Jose Varela pitched two innings, allowing three hits, four runs, four walks, and one strikeout, throwing 56 pitches, of which 29 were strikes, and Leomar Rosario pitched the top of the ninth inning, allowing one hit and two walks, throwing 17 pitches, of which seven were strikes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Fayetteville had runners on second and third base when Anthony Huezo grounded out to first base. Kevin Alvarez scored, and the Woodpeckers trailed the Warbirds 8-6. With two outs, German Ramirez was called out on the strikes, and the game was over. The Woodpeckers lost the Warbirds 8-6.
Fayetteville finished the night with eight hits, went 3 for 17 with runners in scoring position, and left 10 men on base. Nehomar Ochoa Jr. went 4 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. The loss went to Fayetteville Cole MacRae (0-1), and the win went to Wilson pitcher Garrett Hodges (2-2), while Peyton Niksch (1) earned the save.
The Woodpeckers will look to split the series against the Warbirds on Sunday at 5:05 pm on the MLB App. Aubrey Smith (0-2, 6.35 ERA) will be on the mound for Fayetteville against Jarrette Bonet (1-2, 4.23 ERA) of Wilson.
