Early Deficit Dooms Zookeepers in Loss to Bacon

Luther Williams Field – June 24th, 2026

MACON, Ga.— The Asheboro Zookeepers jumped out to an early lead and battled back to erase a three-run deficit, but the Macon Bacon answered with late runs to hand Asheboro a 7-5 loss Wednesday night at Luther Williams Field.

After taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning, the Zookeepers watched Macon respond with a five-run bottom half to move in front 5-2. Asheboro answered immediately with a three-run third inning to even the score at 5-5, but the Bacon reclaimed the lead with a run in the fourth before adding an insurance run in the seventh to secure the victory.

Asheboro wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Drue Saenz was hit by a pitch to begin the second inning before Sylas Boris reached on a fielder’s choice. Chazz Grossington then ripped. a two-run double into the gap, bringing home both runners and giving the Zookeepers an early 2-0 advantage.

Macon responded in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on five walks and two hits to plate five runs and swing the momentum back in its direction. While the Bacon managed only two hits in the frame, they took advantage of free baserunners to take a 5-2 lead.

The Zookeepers didn’t wait long to answer.

Daniel Stephens drew a leadoff walk in the third before Brady McGuire doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Blake Brookins then followed with an RBI single to score Stephens, cutting the deficit to two runs. Boris then lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home McGuire before Grossington drove in another run with an RBI groundout, tying the game at 5-5.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when Macon pushed across the go-ahead run on an RBI single. The Bacon added another run in the seventh to extend the lead to 7-5.

Asheboro threatened throughout the remainder of the game, but could not break through against the Macon bullpen. Quinn Yellin and Keller Eberly combined to throw four hitless innings in relief, preserving the Bacon victory.

Grossington led the Zookeepeers offensively with a two-run double and two RBIs. Boris also drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice, while Brookins finished with an RBI single. McGuire added a double and scored a run as Asheboro finished with five hits.

On the mound, McCall Biemiller started for Asheboro, allowing four earned runs over one inning while striking out two. Takuma Sato settled the game with three innings of relief, surrendering two unearned runs while striking out three. Seth Way followed with 2.1 innings, allowing just one run on one hit, and Carlos Gomez closed the final 1.2 innings with two strikeouts and no runs allowed.

Although the Zookeepers erased an early three-run deficit to pull even through three innings, Macon’s pitching staff held Asheboro scoreless over the final six innings as the Bacon claimed the victory.

The Zookeepers travel to Lexington, S.C. on Thursday, June 25, to play the Lexington County Blowfish where they will look to bounce back and regain their spot atop the Coastal Plain League West Division standings.