WAYNESBORO, Va. – After three straight days of rainouts, the Charlottesville Tom Sox (20-10) made the trip out west to Waynesboro, looking to get back on track against the Generals (10-25). A four-run fifth inning highlighted by two big hits was all the ‘Sox needed, as they came out with a 7-3 win.
Mike Eggert (Wofford) started the game for the ‘Sox, marking his first start of the summer, and Waynesboro jumped on him quickly in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Alex McCoy laced a double down the left field line, and after a stolen base and a walk, Eggert balked, giving the Generals an early 1-0 lead. That run was the first Eggert allowed in 12.2 innings this season.
Charlottesville couldn’t muster a response in the second or the third, as Waynesboro starter Charlie Dohemann dominated. Dohemann didn’t allow a hit through the first four frames, but the ‘Sox offense started to click in the top of the fourth. Aidan Teel (Virginia) reached third base on an error by Waynesboro right fielder Braden Forchic, then Nathan Fink (Florida Southwestern) drove in Teel with a sacrifice fly, tying the game at one.
The Tom Sox bats finally started to heat up against Dohemann in the top of the fifth. After David Wiley led off with a walk, Salvy Alvarez (Florida Southwestern) collected the first hit of the night for the ‘Sox with a single into left, moving Wiley to third. Garrett Spikes (Georgia) gave the ‘Sox the lead with an RBI groundout – and that was before the big hits came. Connor Hincks (Notre Dame) drove in his 11th run of the season with a bloop single into right, which was followed up with a two-run triple by Teel, giving the Tom Sox a 5-1 lead.
Eggert would settle down after the first and finished his night allowing only one earned run on three hits in four innings. Yordani Carmona (St. Thomas U.) made his Tom Sox debut by replacing Eggert in the bottom of the fifth but got himself into a jam right away. Waynesboro loaded the bases with one out, setting up a golden opportunity to tie the game with its number two and three hitters due up. But Carmona buckled down and escaped the jam, striking out Alex Miller and picking off Max Smyley at second base to end the inning.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Tom Sox extended their lead to five runs in the top of the seventh, as Hincks collected his second RBI of the night with a groundout.
Carmona threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth, but an RBI triple from Julian Uejima and an RBI groundout from Haiden Walters in the bottom of the seventh cut the Tom Sox lead down to three. Following the Generals offensive spike, the Tom Sox coasted the rest of the way.
Brice Martinez (Wofford) added an insurance run with an RBI fielder’s choice, and the duo of Caleb Ketchie (Longwood) and Jeremy Goins (Tampa) combined for three scoreless innings of relief, which put the finishing touches on the 7-3 win, Charlottesville’s 20th of the season.
The ‘Sox will remain on the road Monday (July 17) for a doubleheader at Staunton. The first game will begin at 5 P.M. at John Moxie Stadium.
Additional Notes
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The Tom Sox have won 20 games for the sixth consecutive season.
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The three batters caught stealing by Charlottesville’s defense are tied for the most in a game in team history.
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The ‘Sox went 3-for-3 with a runner on third base and less than two outs.
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Charlottesville’s 4-5-6 hitters went 0-for-10 on the night, only reaching base once (Arroyo’s HBP in the ninth).
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The Tom Sox now sit nine stolen bases away from setting a new team record.
