Stripers Fall in Season Finale 9-6 to Indianapolis

LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – The Gwinnett Stripers (38-37, 76-73) rallied from down five runs to tie the game at 6-6 in the seventh inning, but the Indianapolis Indians (44-31, 75-75) scored three in the ninth for a 9-6 victory on Sunday at Gwinnett Field. The Indians won the final series of the season 4-2.

 Decisive Plays:  The Stripers started fast with an RBI single by Jim Jarvis in the first inning for a 1-0 lead. The Indians scored six unanswered runs to seize control at 6-1, highlighted by a Jhostynxon Garcia 443-foot homer (10) to left field in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, the Stripers got back-to-back RBI doubles from Jordan Groshans and Brett Wisely to make it a 6-3 game. Maverick Handley then laced a two-run single into left to make it a one-run game at 6-5. In the seventh, the Stripers tied it at 6-6 with an RBI single by David McCabe. In the ninth, the Indians took a 7-6 lead before Duce Gourson delivered the knockout blow with a two-run shot to right (5) off of James Karinchak (L, 4-4). 

Key Contributors: Handley (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) and McCabe (4-for-4, RBI) drove in three of the six runs for Gwinnett. For Indianapolis, Mitch Jebb (2-for-3, 3 RBIs) drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth. 

Noteworthy: Despite the loss, the Stripers finished the season with a winning record (76-73) for the first time since 2021. Jarvis stole two bases to reach 40, joining DaShawn Keirsey Jr. as the second Striper to amass 40 this season, and the fourth in Gwinnett history. 

Next Game (Friday, March 26):  Gwinnett Stripers at Memphis Redbirds, TBD at AutoZone Park.