The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (20-27) played game two on Wednesday night against the Hill City Howlers (24-23) at City Stadium. Nick Potter was on the mound for Fayetteville against Nelson Keljo of Hill City.
At the top of the first inning, Fayetteville center fielder Josh Wakefield hit a solo home run to right-center field for a 1-0 lead. It was his third home run of the season. With one out, Kevin Alvarez hit a double to center field. With two outs, Anthony Huezo hit an RBI double off the wall at center field, scoring Alvarez for a 2-0 lead. Arturo Flores struck out swinging, and the inning was over.
Moving to the top of the fourth inning, Arturo Flores worked a four-pitch walk. With two outs, showers moved in to City Stadium, causing a rain delay. The rain lasted an hour and thirty minutes before play resumed. A lineout by German Ramirez ended the inning.
Nick Potter pitched three innings, allowing two hits and two strikeouts, throwing 31 pitches, of which 19 were strikes. Kellen Oakes pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Hill City had a runner on second base when Cannon Peebles hit an RBI single to right field. Yaikel Mijares scored, and the Howlers trailed the Woodpeckers 2-1. With two outs, Oakes struck out Luis De La Cruz to retire the side.
At the top of the eighth inning, Fayetteville first baseman Nehomar Ochoa Jr. hit a single, and pinch-hitter Yosweld Vasquez hit a single with one out, moving Ochoa Jr. to third base. A wild pitch by Eudry Alcantara allowed Ochoa Jr. to score for a 3-1 lead. With two outs, D.J. Newman struck out, and the inning was over.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Hill City had runners on second and third base with one out when Jose Pirela hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Jhorvic Abreus scored, and it was now 3-2. With two outs, Oakes struck out Cannon Peebles to retire the side. Oakes pitched five innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one walk, and four strikeouts, throwing 72 pitches, of which 48 were strikes.
Brandon Cassedy pitched for Fayetteville in the bottom of the ninth inning. He allowed a hit and struck out two, throwing 15 pitches, of which 10 were strikes, to get the final three outs of the game. The Woodpeckers defeated the Howlers 3-2.
Fayetteville finished the night with 10 hits, committed two errors, went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and left 12 men on base. Josh Wakefield went 4 for 5 with a home run, a stolen base, and an RBI. The win went to Fayetteville pitcher Kellen Oakes (2-1), Brandon Cassedy earned his first save of the season, and the loss went to Hill City pitcher Nelson Keljo (0-2).
The Woodpeckers and Howlers play game three on Thursday at 6:30 pm on the MLB App. Fayetteville has yet to name a pitcher, while Joey Oakie (0-3, 4.94 ERA) will be on the mound for Hill City.
