(Story by Noah Adcock-Howeth, Augusta GreenJackets)
HICKORY, N.C. – Mac Guscette collected his first professional three-hit day while Mason Guerra hammered his first pro homer as the Augusta GreenJackets secured a 5-1 win April 11.
For the second consecutive game, early runs proved to be the difference, as once Augusta took the lead, the GreenJackets would not relinquish. After leaving the bases loaded in the 2nd against starter Mason Molina, the ‘Jackets would not be denied in the third. Knocks from Owen Carey and Isaiah Drake set the table, and an RBI groundout from Carlos Monteverde put Augusta in front. After a walk to Luis Sanchez, Guscette came up huge, scorching a two-RBI double down the left field line.
Hickory would strike back in the bottom half, scoring their only run of the night via a leadoff homer from Wady Mendez. The solo shot would be the only significant threat posed against Ethan Bagwell, as Augusta’s starter worked four-plus innings in his second pro start and allowed just the one run.
The day of strong pitching continued in the fifth with Brett Sears, who replaced Bagwell after the latter walked the first two batters of the inning. Sears came in roaring, striking out the first four men he faced to not only deny Hickory a chance to tie, but set the tone for four scoreless frames and his first professional win.
The ‘Jackets iced the game with two outs in the eighth, as Mason Guerra ambushed the first pitch from reliever Eric Loomis and scorched it over the left field wall. The two-run blast not only was Guerra’s first as a pro, it was also Augusta’s first long ball of the week.
The four-run deficit was too much for Hickory, and the Crawdads went quietly in the ninth against new GreenJacket Jorge Juan, who struck out a pair in his Augusta debut. Juan was added to the team’s roster this afternoon due to injury, along with fellow reliever Seth Keller.
Having knotted the series at two wins apiece, the ‘Jackets will try for their first three-game win streak of 2025 behind Rayven Antonio tomorrow evening in Hickory. Augusta returns home Tuesday for a six-game series against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, which will include Augusta Azaleas Weekend and the exciting on-field debut of the new uniforms.
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