FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The Carolina Mudcats took advantage of a season-high 12 walks issued by Fredericksburg pitching to defeat the Nationals 9-5 on Tuesday night at Virginia Credit Union Stadium, opening the final week of the regular season with a crucial victory that pulls them within one game of first place in the division.
Game Summary
Final Score: Carolina Mudcats 9, Fredericksburg Nationals 5
Date: September 2, 2025
Venue: Virginia Credit Union Stadium, Fredericksburg, VA
Records: Carolina (30-28, 66-56), Fredericksburg (31-27, 61-62)
Series: Game 1 of 6
Line Score
Inning-by-Inning Breakdown
Top 1st Inning – Early Strike Handelfry Encarnacion got the Mudcats on the board with an RBI single on a sharp line drive to center fielder Brenner Cox, scoring Josiah Ragsdale. Brady Ebel advanced to third and Eric Bitonti moved to second, setting up more potential runs that wouldn’t come to fruition in the frame. CAR 1, FBG 0
Top 2nd Inning – The Decisive Frame Carolina broke the game open with a four-run explosion that effectively ended the competitive portion of the contest:
- Brady Ebel drew a walk, allowing Filippo Di Turi to score and advancing Josiah Ragsdale to third and Braylon Payne to second
- Eric Bitonti delivered the knockout punch with a two-run double to left fielder Randal Díaz, scoring Ragsdale and Payne while Brady Ebel advanced to third. This clutch hit with two outs chased starter Brayan Romero from the game.
- A wild pitch by reliever Andy Luis allowed Ebel to score and Bitonti to advance to third, capping the four-run rally
The second inning perfectly encapsulated the game’s story – Carolina’s patience at the plate forcing walks, timely hitting with runners in scoring position, and Fredericksburg’s inability to throw strikes when it mattered most. CAR 5, FBG 0
Top 3rd Inning – Extending the Lead The Mudcats added two more runs against Luis, who continued the pattern of issuing free passes:
- Josiah Ragsdale walked, allowing José Anderson to score while Luis Lameda advanced to third and Yannic Walther moved to second
- Braylon Payne grounded into a double play (first baseman Jacob Walsh to shortstop Eli Willits), but Luis Lameda scored before Payne was thrown out at first, with Ragsdale eliminated at second CAR 7, FBG 0
Top 6th Inning – Insurance Runs Carolina tacked on two more runs against the Fredericksburg bullpen to build what appeared to be an insurmountable lead:
- Filippo Di Turi singled on a ground ball to left fielder Randal Díaz, scoring Eric Bitonti while Handelfry Encarnacion also scored and José Anderson advanced to second CAR 9, FBG 0
Bottom 7th Inning – Nationals Rally Falls Short Fredericksburg finally broke through with a five-run outburst against Carolina reliever Bjorn Johnson, providing the game’s only dramatic moment:
- Jorgelys Mota singled on a ground ball to center fielder Braylon Payne, scoring Randal Díaz while Brenner Cox also scored and Kevin Bazzell advanced to third
- Jacob Walsh grounded into a double play (second baseman Filippo Di Turi to shortstop Brady Ebel to first baseman Eric Bitonti), but Kevin Bazzell scored before Walsh was eliminated, with Mota thrown out at second
- Nick Peoples provided the highlight of the comeback attempt, launching a two-run homer (his 7th of the season) on a fly ball to left-center field, scoring Ethan Petry and cutting the deficit to four runs
Despite the late heroics, the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Final: CAR 9, FBG 5
Pitching Performances
Winning Pitcher: Melvin Hernandez (10-5) The Carolina League ERA leader delivered another dominant performance, keeping the Nationals off the board through six innings while his offense built a commanding 9-0 lead. Hernandez’s stellar season continues as he leads the league in earned run average, showcasing the type of consistency that has made him one of the circuit’s premier starters.
Losing Pitcher: Brayan Romero (2-5) Failed to complete two innings in his start, walking four batters early and surrendering five runs (one in the first, four in the second) before being pulled with two outs in the second inning. The early struggles put his team in an insurmountable hole and continued a troubling pattern of control issues.
Relief Performances:
- Andy Luis (FBG): Entered in relief but continued the walk problems, issuing three more free passes in the third inning as Carolina extended their lead to 7-0
- Bjorn Johnson (CAR): Surrendered the five-run seventh inning rally, including Peoples’ two-run homer, but the early lead provided enough cushion to secure the victory
Key Performances
Carolina Mudcats Offense
Eric Bitonti (1B): 2-for-2, 2 RBI, 3 BB
- Game-changing two-out, two-run double in the second inning that chased Romero
- Perfect example of the team’s patient approach at the plate with three walks
- Scored twice in the victory
Filippo Di Turi (2B): 2-for-5, 2 RBI
- Two-run single in the sixth inning provided crucial insurance runs
- Consistent production throughout the lineup
Josiah Ragsdale (LF): 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB
- Scored the game’s first run and drew two walks
- Another example of Carolina’s disciplined plate approach
Handelfry Encarnacion (DH): 1-for-4, 1 RBI
- Opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning
- Set the tone for the offensive explosion that followed
Fredericksburg Nationals
Nick Peoples (RF): 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 HR
- Two-run homer in the seventh inning provided the game’s most exciting moment
- Seventh home run of the season came on a fly ball to left-center field
Jorgelys Mota (3B): 2-for-5, 2 RBI
- Two-run single sparked the seventh-inning rally
- One of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult offensive night
Jacob Walsh (1B): 0-for-4, 1 RBI
- RBI on a double play groundout in the seventh inning
- Solid defensive play throughout despite the team’s struggles
Historical Context and Game Notes
- The 12 walks issued by Fredericksburg tied for the second-most they have allowed in a single game all season
- The most walks the Nationals had allowed came against this same Carolina team during the first weekend of the season, suggesting a recurring theme of the Mudcats working counts effectively against FredNats pitching
- Carolina’s patient approach resulted in 12 walks compared to just 5 for Fredericksburg, demonstrating superior plate discipline throughout the lineup
- Both teams committed three errors in what proved to be a somewhat sloppy defensive performance
- The Mudcats’ 10 hits came from eight different players, showcasing their balanced offensive attack
- Fredericksburg’s five-run seventh inning was their highest-scoring frame in recent games but came too late to affect the outcome
Standings Impact
This crucial victory pulls Carolina to within one game of first-place Fredericksburg in the division with just six games remaining in the regular season. The win positions the Mudcats perfectly for a potential division title run during the final week of play while also maintaining their strong position in the overall Carolina League playoff picture.
The loss drops Fredericksburg to 61-62 overall but they maintain their slim division lead. However, with Carolina’s recent surge and the head-to-head nature of this series, the Nationals find themselves in a precarious position heading into the final week.
What’s Next
The series continues Wednesday with an unusual 11:05 a.m. start time at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. Fredericksburg will hand the ball to Liam Sullivan as they look to bounce back from the disappointing loss and protect their division lead.
For Carolina, Wednesday’s matinee represents an opportunity to potentially tie for first place or even take the division lead outright, making it one of the most important games of their season. The Mudcats’ combination of patient hitting and strong starting pitching from Hernandez has them positioned perfectly for a playoff push.
The rubber match of this crucial series could very well determine the Carolina League North division champion, with both teams understanding the magnitude of each remaining game.
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