On Friday night, the Charlottesville Tom Sox were defeated by the Harrisonburg Turks at James Madison University for the first time this season by a score of 3-1. Earlier this season, the Tom Sox beat the Turks on the road, 8-5, but tonight was a different story, as hitting was lacking for the Tom Sox in a game that contained many controversial calls.
The first sign of action came from the Turks as Michael Rosario hit a homerun off of Tom Sox starting pitcher Trace Bright (Auburn) during the bottom of the first inning. Bright pitched for four innings, while allowing two hits, one walk, one run, and struck out five batters.
The Tom Sox did not respond to offensive action until the top of the 4th inning when Trevor Candelaria (Davidson) had the first hit of the game with a single. Candelaria previously hit a walk-off double against the Waynesboro Generals to win the game for the Tom Sox 7-6. Wyatt Langford (Florida) added another hit for the Tom Sox in the top of the 5th inning for a single as well.
During the bottom of the 5th inning, Bright left the mound for the Tom Sox as Andrew Ward (VCU) came in to pitch. Shortly after, Peyton Crispin for the Turks hit a RBI single during the bottom of the 5th inning to bring in Clay Lockett to put the Turks up 2-0. Rosario followed with another hit to land on second base but did not make it to home plate.
Gehrig Ebel (Virginia Tech) later on hit a single for the Tom Sox to continue his nine game on base streak. Ebel is currently the only Tom Sox player to play in every game this season and get on base.
Right after, Logan Amiss (VCU) hit a RBI single to bring in Ebel for the Tom Sox to make the score 2-1 during the top of the 6th inning. Candelaria then got on base and stole second, making this steal the 34th one so far this season, tying with the Tom Sox all time stealing record in 2019.
Cole Foster (Auburn) brought some action during the top of the seventh inning as he had a single for the Tom Sox, but was thrown out at second as he tried to steal.
At the bottom of the seventh inning, Chase Centala (Florida) made his first appearance for the Tom Sox as he came in to pitch. Centala pitched for two innings, while allowing one hit, one walk, one run, and also had five strikeouts.
During the top of the eighth inning, Amiss went for a bunt which led to a controversial call as he was called out at first base, which led to no runs being brought in for the Tom Sox.
Shortly after during the bottom of the eighth inning, Bryce Safferwich (James Madison) hit a RBI single for the Turks to bring in another run, making the score 3-1 to head into the final inning.
The Tom Sox could not answer during the ninth inning, making the final score 3-1 Turks.
The Tom Sox will be back in action tomorrow, June 19, as they face the Covington Lumberjacks in Covington, Virginia with the first pitch being thrown at 7 p.m. The Tom Sox are currently 8-3 as they are currently in thirteen games in eleven day stretch.
