Lynchburg scored six runs in its final two trips to the plate of game two Friday evening to defeat Wilmington, 7-1, and ultimately split a doubleheader after dropping the first contest, 5-1, at Calvin Falwell Field.
The Hillcats (18-21) led wire-to-wire in the nightcap after Will Skinner hit a one-out double in the second inning and scored one batter later on an RBI single by Levi Hyams. Lynchburg held on to the slim 1-0 margin until the bottom of the fifth inning as a pitchers’ duel unfolded.
Wes Parsons only faced 14 hitters through his first four innings of work, while Blue Rocks (18-21) starter Daniel Stumpf remarkably faced only 13 batters in his first four frames despite allowing a run. Parsons (3-1) prevailed for the victory after pitching the first six stanzas of the seven-inning contest and holding Wilmington to one run on four hits. Stumpf (1-6) suffered the defeat after surrendering three runs in five frames.
In the fifth inning, the Hillcats added to their lead when Jose Peraza drove in two runs with a two-out single. Hyams and Eric Garcia scored on the play to give Lynchburg a 3-0 advantage.
After the Blue Rocks plated their lone run in the top of the sixth, the Hillcats responded with four runs on three hits in the bottom half of the inning. Kevin Ahrens, Skinner, Hyams and Daniel Castro all scored during the rally. Skinner, Castro and Anthony Nunez all picked up RBIs in the frame as well.
With a 7-1 lead, Zach Jadofsky loaded the bases with three walks in the ninth, but he struck out a pair and maintained the final six-run difference on the scoreboard.
The first game went to the Blue Rocks, 5-1. Wilmington’s leadoff hitter Raul Mondesi began the contest with a double and scored later on a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Hunter Dozier.
Lynchburg tied the game briefly in the fourth with a two-out RBI by Alejandro Piloto, which drove in Edison Sanchez, but a four-run sixth for Wilmington proved to be the margin.
Doubles by Cody Stubbs and Mondesi highlighted an inning that also included a two-run single by Bubba Starling. All five runs in the game were charged to Jarett Miller (1-4), who lasted 4.1 innings.
Lynchburg will host Wilmington Saturday for the 8th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Centra’s Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center. General admission tickets will be $10, and a portion of each ticket will be donated to the fight against cancer. There will also be a silent auction for the special pink jerseys the Hillcats will wear during the game, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative pink T-shirt. Lucas Sims (3-3, 4.43) will take the mound against Miguel Almonte (2-1, 5.21) in the 6:05pm tilt. Gates open at 5pm. Fans who can’t make it to City Stadium can follow the action on 97.9 the Planet beginning at 5:40pm.
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Chris Graham
