After five months of fun, the season — and the fate of the series, boiled down to Sunday: game 132. Hub City looked to finish what has been a season full of ups and downs on a high note with both a win and a clinch of the series over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.
Anthony Astudillo (0-1, 6.00 ERA) made the start opposite left hander Juan Amarante (2-1, 3.50). Both arms had to work out of some two out trouble in the first inning.
Astudillo lost the zone and issued back to back walks on nine pitches to Griffin Burkholder and Juan Villavicencio. But, he bounced back with a strikeout of Devin Saltiban. Wuilfredo Antunez then singled to right, but the throw to the plate got Burkholder with ease to retire the side.
In the bottom of the frame, Paxton Kling led off with a single and later stole second. A wild pitch moved him to third, and with two away, Quincy Scott II worked a walk. But it was all for naught as Casey Cook grounded to second.
The next scoring threat came in the bottom of the third when Maxton Martin doubled down the right field line with two out and later stole second. Macias followed with a walk, and on what was ball four, Martin swiped third. But, again, the threat fell idle as Scott II grounded to short, forcing Macias at second on the fielder’s choice.
In the ensuing half, Antunez singled with two down and later advanced on a stolen base. Daunte Stuart followed with a base on balls, but they were left on as Scott Mudler flew out to left.
The deadlock was broken in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff single and a steal from Evan Morrison. With one out, Kling drove him in on a base knock, later advancing on a passed ball and a swipe of third. But, Martin whiffed and Macias grounded to first to end the inning.
That would end up being the end of the game as a severe thunderstorm hit after the top of the sixth. Jersey Shore took a lead after a double from Burkholder to start the frame. With one out, Saltiban drove in the tying run on a base hit, later swiping second himself and scoring on a two out double from Daunte Stuart. But, none of that ever happened.
By rule, since the Burgers did not get a chance to hit after falling down 2-1, the score reverts back to where it was after the last full inning. Thus, Hub City ended the 2026 season with a 1-0 win in five innings to clinch the series.
The Spartanburgers wrap up 2026 with an overall record of 61-71 and a 27-39 mark in the second half of the season.
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