NORTH AUGUSTA, SC: Five of Augusta’s top six hitters reached base multiple times as the GreenJackets rode six unanswered runs to a 9-5 win in their best offensive performance of the week.
After first pitch was pushed up a half hour due to potential rainfall, it became apparent early both sides were willing to duel back and forth for the majority of the evening. Each team scored in the first as Chandler Pollard singled, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on a grounder.
The Jackets answered immediately against Aneudis Mejia, when Owen Carey walked, Eric Hartman doubled, and Nick Montgomery poked a sac fly to tie the game.
Both Mejia and Rayven Antonio traded zeroes in the 2nd, but three errors in the top of the 3rd, including a catcher’s interference that saw Montgomery leave due to injury, brought Hickory back in front.
The Jackets jumped on Mejia the very next chance they got, as Isaiah Drake smoked a two-out triple off the wall to score a pair and put Augusta back in front.
Three Hickory hits in the 4th led to two earned runs off of Antonio, putting the Crawdads up 4-3. After a scoreless bottom half, Augusta came alive in the 5th against new reliever Angel Anazco.
John Gil began the inning with an infield single, and advanced to third on a throwing error. Carey’s single tied the game, and after he stole 2nd, Drake came up big with another RBI knock to put Augusta in front.
A wild pitch from Alberto Mota with the bags full doubled the lead, and put Augusta up comfortably.
After Antonio finished the 5th on a high note, Augusta’s bullpen completely neutralized the Crawdads for the rest of the night. Jackson Dannelley and Jacob Gomez combined for four hitless innings of relief, striking out six combined batters.
Augusta, meanwhile, tacked on three more runs in the late innings thanks to a Colby Jones RBI single, a throwing error from the catcher Ben Hartl, and an RBI double from Hartman.
Augusta’s nine runs in the game tied the total the GreenJackets scored in the first four games of the series combined. Equally as notably, Augusta swung the bat incredibly well with men in scoring position, going 6-16 in those situations in the win.
The Jackets now have a chance to split the series with the Crawdads for the second time this season if they can muster a win tomorrow afternoon.
The two teams are set for a 1:35 p.m. finale, assuming the weather holds off in North Augusta. Luis Arestigueta and Ismael Agreda are the scheduled starters in Hickory’s final game at SRP Park of 2025.
