Fredericksburg Nationals split doubleheader with Carolina Mudcats

FREDERICKSBURG, VA- A much-needed victory in the nightcap of their Thursday doubleheader now sees the Fredericksburg Nationals inch that much close to a spot in the Carolina League playoffs following a two-game split at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.

Fredericksburg (63-63, 32-28) lost the first game of the day 5-1, a strong showing from the Carolina Mudcats, who took a 5-0 lead after the third inning. The Nationals didn’t score until the bottom of the seventh inning.

However, they saved their scoring for the second game of the afternoon, a 7-3 win where Fredericksburg scored two runs in three of the game’s seven innings overall.

Ethan Petry supplied the lumber alongside Jorgelys Mota, each hitting two-run homers in the win, along with having multi-hit, multi-RBI games. Mota also scored three runs for the Nationals.

Both games with a complete effort on the mound as Fredericksburg used eight different pitchers across the two games, no pitcher going longer than three innings overall. Merrick Baldo and Ryan Minckler both struck out three batters in the nightcap, Baldo continuing to impress in the bullpen to close out the regular season.

The doubleheader finale win and a loss from the Fayetteville Woodpeckers in Salem sees both Fayetteville and Carolina trail Fredericksburg by two games with three games remaining in the regular season.

Fredericksburg’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now down to 1, needing just a win or a Fayetteville loss to head to the playoffs for the second-straight season.