Whitmore Makes History at Gastonia in Series Finale Loss
 
GASTONIA, NC – Kelsie Whitmore became the first female to start a game in Atlantic League history Sunday evening at CaroMont Park, serving as the FerryHawks left fielder in a 10-5 defeat. Whitmore made the first putout in the bottom of the first inning and reached base on a hit by pitch in the fifth.  
 
The Honey Hunters never trailed on Sunday, scoring runs in each of the first five innings. FerryHawks starter Alex Vargas (0-2) became the victim of two early two-run home runs, one from Zach Jarrett in the first inning, another from Cesar Trejo in the second inning. Vargas allowed five earned runs over his two innings, he had one strikeout and two walks. 
 
The Staten Island offense, meanwhile, struggled against Gastonia right-hander Reily Hovis in the early innings. Following back-to-back singles from Angel Aguilar and Kacy Clemens in the top of the first, Hovis proceeded to retire 10 consecutive FerryHawks to complete his four-inning outing. The Former North Carolina Tar Heel whiffed six batters and didn't issue a walk. 
 
The FerryHawks thrived against the Honey Hunters bullpen, exploding for five runs against four different relievers over the final five frames. The first three Gastonia arms to follow Hovis all allowed runs on Sunday night, but Staten Island's deficit only got as small as four runs. 
 
Trailing 8-0 heading to the fifth inning, Staten Island utilized three hits to plate three runs with Hovis no longer in the game. Dueling reliever Miguel Hernandez, the FerryHawks were sparked by a Brandon Wagner walk and Ben Ruta single. After Ruta thieved second base to put two in scoring position, Javier Betancourt delivered his first FerryHawks home run – a three-run shot to left field. Despite Whitmore reaching on a hit by pitch and Ricardo Cespdes collecting a one-out single, the rally ended when Cespedes was hit by Aguilar's batted ball (a two-out single). 
 
Four FerryHawks relievers couldn't hold the deficit for Staten Island, allowing five earned runs across seven innings. Williams Jerez, who worked a scoreless eighth inning, was the only Staten Island hurler not to allow a run in Sunday's series finale. 
 
Staten Island tried to continue chipping away in the late innings, crossing one run in the seventh and eighth innings. Cespedes singled home Ruta with one out in the seventh to close the gap to 8-4, while Brandon Wagner launched his first home run of the season in the eighth. Wagner's solo shot made it a 10-5 game.
 
Sam Bordner (3-0) earned his second win of the series, despite allowing four hits over 1.2 innings. He struck out two without giving up a walk. 
 
Staten Island (0-9) returns to New York to kickstart a 12-game homestand on Tuesday against the Lexington Legends at Staten Island University Hospital Park. RHP XXXXXXX takes the mound for the FerryHawks against Legends LHP XXXXXXXXX with first pitch in the downtown district scheduled for 7:00 PM. Tuesday's home-opener will be available live on the YES Network App. 
 
Postgame Notes: FerryHawks first defeat by more than four runs this season...Javier Betancourt (3-for-4) recorded his first three-hit game of the season...Williams Jerez tossed his first scoreless appearance of the season...the game lasted 3:36, not including an 18-minute rain delay