NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: For the second time in three nights, the Augusta GreenJackets survived trailing into the bottom of the 9th and found a way to win in their final at bat, with Colin Burgess’ RBI single capping a 3-2 win.
Cam Caminiti returned to the mound after a short and difficult road start last Sunday, and continues to look impressive at home.
Caminiti diced up the Lynchburg Hillcats to the tune of four scoreless innings, scattering four hits and accumulating six Ks but coming up three outs shy of qualifying for a decision.
While Caminiti impressed in his four frames, the Augusta offense was silenced early by the tandem of Cam Walty and Rafe Schlesinger.
The two arms combined for six straight zeroes, with inning-ending double plays in both the 5th and 6th hamstringing any chances to open the board.
Seth Keller relieved Caminiti after the 4th, and navigated three walks to post a trio of zeroes in relief. Finally, the bottom of the 7th gave the Jackets a chance to open the scoring.
Colby Jones reached on a one-out error from shortstop Welbyn Francisca, and the error proved costly, with a knock from Mason Guerra moving Jones up before Nick Montgomery slashed a run-scoring single for a 1-0 lead.
Lynchburg was ready to respond late, however, and they put immediate pressure on new reliever Trent Buchanan, tying the game in the 8th and taking the lead in the 9th.
A two-out homer from Luis Merejo equalized the game, and one inning later, the Hillcats strung three two-out singles together, finalizing with a base hit from Jeffrey Mercedes to give Lynchburg its first lead.
Augusta had already totaled five walk-offs in 30 home games this year, and kept the faith in a one-run game in the 9th. That faith was rewarded quickly, as for the second time this week, Guerra crushed a solo homer off of Austin Aldeano, this one tying the game.
Montgomery followed up with a base hit, before being lifted for a pinch runner in Leiker Figueroa. Figueroa took 2nd on a ground out, and Colin Burgess earned a chance to play hero.
The catcher worked the count full, and roped a line drive back up the middle to score Figueroa and send Augusta home victoriously for the 5th time in six games.
Saturday’s win secures a series victory for the GreenJackets, made even more impressive by the fact that the Hillcats had won nine consecutive games entering the week.
The two teams will clash one more time, with a 1:35 p.m. Sunday matinee closing out the only meeting between Augusta and Lynchburg this season.
