Cardinals lose to the Lumberjacks in a close game

After splitting a double header with the Harrisonburg Turks in Harrisonburg Sunday night, the Cardinals returned to action at home last night. In a seesaw affair, the Cardinals lost a close game to the Covington Lumberjacks by a score of 6-4.

The teams traded the lead throughout the game. The Lumberjacks scored first, in the top of the first inning, but the Cardinals were unable to answer, stranding two runners in the bottom of the inning. Despite each team putting runners on base over the next two innings, the next score didn’t come until the fourth inning. Hits by Cardinals’ Easton Waterman, Jose Hernandez and Patrick Baggett scored two runs, giving the Cardinals a one run lead. It was short lived, because the Lumberjacks plated another two runs in the fifth, reclaiming the lead. Cardinals’ right fielder, Mason Nadeau, slapped a single in the fifth, scoring Steve Grober and tying the game at three each. The Lumberjacks took another one run lead in the sixth inning, and in the seventh, Easton Waterman’s third hit of the night scored Arrison Perez. The game was tied once again.

In the eighth inning, the Cardinals gave up two runs and two hits, and committed an error to score two more Lumberjack batters, giving the Jacks a 6-4 lead that the Cardinals wouldn’t recover for the rest of the game. Despite the loss, three Cardinals had multiple hits in the game: Easton Waterman went 3-4, and Carson Bell and Patrick Baggett each went 2-5. The Cardinals pitching staff combined for seven strikeouts in the game, and Dylan Verdonk took the loss for the Cardinals. The loss brings the Cardinals record to 6-10.

The threat of rain, and s series of unusual events made a tough day for the Cardinals. “It was a real grind today,” Coach Hurla said, “It wore on us.”

The Cardinals play at home again on Friday, against the Strasburg Express. Game time 7:00 pm.