(Story courtesy Augusta GreenJackets)
HICKORY, N.C. – Landon Beidelschies did not allow an earned run in five strong innings, but the Augusta GreenJackets could not build upon 12 hits and lost a late lead to the Hickory Crawdads (28-11, 62-41) in a frustrating 4-3 defeat.
The effort for Augusta ended with the most hits in a loss this year, as the Jackets managed a dozen knocks with just three runs to show for it. The Jackets had a baserunner in eight of nine innings, including putting the tying run at second with no outs in the ninth, but could not eclipse the early deficit. The GreenJackets struck out 12 times in the game, the fourth straight night this week where Augusta punched out at least a dozen times.
Despite the losing effort, Landon Beidelschies’ start was one of the best of his career, keeping the Crawdads at bay through five solid innings. Beidelschies allowed two unearned runs, both of which stemmed from throwing errors by catcher Jacob Jarrell in his pro debut, but saw no runs of his own accord cross and departed with the lead.
The Jackets were unable to get on the board across four innings against starter Mason McConnaughey, despite consistently hard contact. It was not until the fifth where Augusta broke through, with Juan Mateo clubbing a bases loaded double to score a pair and tie the game.
One frame after tying things up, Augusta jumped in front for the first time against Nivar. Three straight singles were capped by a blooper from Junior Tilien, whose first Augusta hit also was the go-ahead RBI. Even after Tilien’s knock, the Jackets had men at the corners with one out, and bases loaded with two outs, but could not pad the lead.
Hickory quickly made Augusta pay for the lack of insurance, as they snatched the lead against Kade Woods in the very next half-inning. Woods issued a leadoff walk to put the tying run on, and after falling behind against Noah Franklin, Woods hung a center-cut curveball that Franklin deposited over the left field wall for the lead.
Augusta put men aboard in each of their final three chances offensively, but could not tie the game against Michael Trausch or JD McReynolds. The Jackets ended the game 3-13 with runners in scoring position, and are now 7-42 in those spots over the course of the week. McReynolds struck out three straight men in the middle of Augusta’s order with the tying run at second in the ninth, underlining the issue that has plagued the team all series.
After splitting the first four games of the series against the Crawdads, the Jackets are right back where they started the week in the standings, sitting 5.5 games behind the Crawdads. The season features 28 games still on the schedule, but just two more head-to-head with Hickory, the first of which sees Luis Arestigueta take the ball Saturday night for his second start of the season.
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