Greenville, N.C. – The Greenville Yard Gnomes secured a non-conference victory over the Augusta Klutch on Sunday night at Guy Smith Stadium. David Lillis led the way with two hits and two runs scored to spark the Gnomes offense.
Lillis kicked off the bottom of the first with a single down the right field line, setting the stage for Jake D’Altrui, who launched a two-run homer to left center in his debut with the Gnomes. Augusta responded quickly, putting up five runs in the top of the second. Braydon Shealy blasted a grand slam, bringing home Jag Verdery, Connor Shealy, and Reid Smith. Tra’Vonte Williams added an RBI double to score Devin Hillary, giving the Klutch a 5–2 lead.
Greenville answered in the third inning with four runs of their own. Alex Ferrell scored on a catcher’s error to begin the rally. Kevin Wheeler crossed the plate after a bases-loaded walk by John Kiebler. Will Applegate scored on a wild pitch, and Fuller Morrish added another run thanks to a defensive miscue, putting the Gnomes back on top, 6–5.
Both teams were held scoreless through the middle innings until Greenville broke through in the eighth. A single by Collin Hughes, a wild pitch, and two Klutch errors allowed Lillis, Hughes, and Morrish to score, sealing a 9–6 comeback win for the Yard Gnomes.
Alex McHale received the win for the Gnomes, tossing five innings and allowing just one hit with six strikeouts. Yulian Batista took the loss for the Klutch, allowing three runs in just one inning of work.
Up Next: Greenville travels to Macon, Georgia, to face the Macon Bacon on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.