LYNCHBURG, VA- The Fredericksburg Nationals saw a 4-1 lead evaporate as the Lynchburg Hillcats came back to win Game 2 of the Carolina League Division Series, 5-4, advancing to the Championship Series against the Columbia Fireflies.
Lynchburg scored twice in the seventh inning and twice in the ninth as relief pitchers Bryant Olson and Merrick Baldo allowed a combined four runs to score.
In the seventh, an RBI double play and bases-loaded balk got the Hillcats to within one run, but in the ninth, a sacrifice bunt attempt went awry on both sides. Dauri Fernandez popped out to Baldo, who tried to get Cannon Peebles going back to second base.
The throw went wide of second and past center fielder Brenner Cox, allowing both runners on base (1st and 2nd) to score on the play.
This is the craziest ending I've seen to any baseball game, @MiLB or @MLB
The ball got by both 2nd base & the center fielder. @FXBGNats were 3 outs away from forcing a Game 3 and instead, this is how their season ends
Wow
— #Alex Murphy (#@AlexMurphyJour)
3:23 PM • Sep 12, 2025
Fredericksburg was the beneficiary of an errant throw earlier in the game, a steal attempt from Randal Diaz that Peebles threw wide, allowing two runs to score. Diaz also drove in a run on an RBI single earlier in the fifth inning.
A wild pitch saw the Nationals strike first in the fourth inning, but Lynchburg was quick to answer in the bottom-half.
Fredericksburg starting pitcher Bryan Polanco allowed three hits and one run in four innings of work.
Thursday’s loss now brings the offseason as we now wait until April to see what Fredericksburg’s 2026 roster will look like.