Playing their first game of the season at the newly renovated McCrary Park, the Asheboro ZooKeepers defeated the Boone Bigfoots 9-6 on Thursday night in seven innings. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was halted in the first inning due to lightning and heavy rain. 

The ZooKeepers fell behind 3-0 in the first inning but exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second to go ahead. A wild pitch allowed left fielder Todd Hudson to score the first run for the Zooks at McCrary this season. Later in the frame, third baseman Jared Beebe tied the contest at 3-3 with a two-run home run. First baseman Tyler McPeak drove in two more runs with a double as the Zooks took the lead. 

Both teams added a run in the third but the Bigfoots tied the game at 6-6 in the fourth. However, Beebe responded quickly in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single to put Asheboro ahead 7-6. Beebe’s eight RBIs this season are the second most on the team. 

After Boone failed to tie the game in the top of the sixth, McPeak provided the Zooks with two insurance runs on a blast over the outfield wall, making the score 9-6. It was McPeak’s second home run of the season and extended his team-leading RBI total to 14. This was the first game this season the Zooks have hit multiple home runs. 

Making his second appearance for the ZooKeepers this season, Jaden Stockton secured the final four outs of the night. After allowing a one-out single in the top of the seventh, Stockton struck out the final two Boone batters to earn the save and move the Zooks to 4-1 in home contests this season. 

Grant Aycock started on the mound for Asheboro but was relieved in the second by Ethan Snyder, who picked up the win. With six strikeouts on the night, Snyder surpassed Jacob Dienes for the team lead with 15. 

Asheboro tallied 10 hits on the night and had seven of its nine starters post at least one. McPeak, Beebe and shortstop Alex Lodise all registered two hits. 

The second game of the night was called off due to lightning and heavy rain. The ZooKeepers will face the Macon Bacon on Sunday at McCrary Park. The game will start at 6 p.m. with gates opening at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. 

Written by Jacob Kisamore