
Hillcats Top Nationals 8-6
August 12, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
In another dramatic finish, the Lynchburg Hillcats knocked off the Fredericksburg Nationals 8-6 on Saturday night.
C.J. Kayfus delivered a game-winning two-run home run in the eighth inning to put the Hillcats in front. With the go-ahead run at the plate in the ninth, Jose Devers ended the ballgame with an incredible diving grab to seal the victory.
The Nationals jumped out to an early lead as Gavin Dugas was drilled with a pitch in the second inning with the bases loaded to score one. Later in the inning, Elijah Nunez drove home two more on a single to right field.
Lynchburg would begin their climb in the third inning when Angel Zarate would bring a run home a run on a sacrifice fly. They would tack on one more in the fourth inning with a Juan Benjamin single to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
Fredericksburg would get the run back as Andrew Pinkney would double to plate Yohandy Morales.
The fifth inning would swing things in favor of the Hillcats. Wuilfredo Antunez would tie the ballgame on a grounder to right field that would score one before a throwing error would let the tying run touch the plate. Jose Devers would drive home two more to give Lynchburg a 6-4 lead after a double to center.
A bases loaded walk in the sixth to Dylan Crews and a wild pitch in the seventh would allow the Nationals to tie the game. Heading to the eighth, the game was heading for another wild finish.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lynchburg would get a runner aboard to bring C.J. Kayfus to the plate. Kayfus would mash a ball deep over the right-center field wall for his first professional home run, giving the Hillcats the two-run lead.
Tomas Reyes would shut it down in the ninth inning despite bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. On the final pitch, Jose Devers would end the game with a full extension dive to rob a run from Fredericksburg.
With the win, Lynchburg guaranteed themselves a split of the series. The two teams will face off one more time in Lynchburg on the season, Sunday afternoon at 6:30 p.m.
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