CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — The Charlottesville Tom Sox (5-2) took their first home loss of the season on Sunday afternoon in a back-and-forth, 12-8 battle against the Harrisonburg Turks (3-4). After scoring four runs in the first inning and tying the game in the fourth, the ‘Sox were unable to keep up with Harrisonburg’s potent offense to complete a late-inning comeback.
James Hays (Georgia) got the start for Charlottesville and left the Turks scoreless in the first, stranding three runners on base after an athletic catch and tag-out at home plate by catcher Cale Stricklin (Auburn) to end the top of the frame.
The ‘Sox got on the board first in the bottom of the inning after a Johnnie Lopez (Seminole State) walk and stolen base put him into scoring position for Tommy Roldan (Virginia), who smacked an RBI base hit up the middle. The offense continued their hot start as home run leader Cade Belyeu (Auburn) rocked a two-RBI double to bring home both Roldan and Ethan Gibson (Virginia Tech) — who reached base on a walk. Ryan Wynn (Wofford), playing in his second game of the season with Charlottesville, finished off the four-run first with an RBI double to drive home Belyeu.
The Turks answered in the top of the second as Matthew Delgado slapped a solo shot over the right-field fence, but Hays limited any further damage, stranding two Turks on base to wiggle out of a jam.
After the ‘Sox went scoreless in the second, the Turks continued their success in the top of the third as Cameron Harris drove one over the fence for Harrisonburg’s second solo home run of the ballgame.
Bret Gastman (Charleston Southern) came in to relieve Hays in the second, but the Turks continued to do damage at the plate. With his second RBI of the game, Delgado brought home a run on a single to bring Harrisonburg within one.
The Turks’ momentum continued in the top of the fourth as they took their first lead of the afternoon with a four-run inning to go up 7-4.
The ‘Sox offense quickly responded, however, as Belyeu brought home Gibson on a single to keep Charlottesville in the game and move Roldan to third. After Belyeu stole second, the Turks booted the ball on the infield allowing Roldan to scamper home. The ‘Sox benefitted from some more shaky defense in the frame as Belyeu was able to come home from third on a wild pitch to the backstop, tying the score at seven heading into the fifth.
After Gastman found some trouble in the fifth, the Tom Sox decided to make a pitching change once again and bring Thomas Whelan (Davidson) into the ballgame, The Turks refused to be quieted, however, as Chris Katz continued the scoring run for Harrisonburg by slicing one right down the third base line to bring in two runs and break the tie.
After the Turks retook the lead, Charlottesville’s offense went quiet the rest of the afternoon. Harrisonburg tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to 12-7 before a last-ditch Tom Sox rally closed the gap to 12-8 in the bottom of the frame. It was too little too late for the ‘Sox, though, who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.
UP NEXT:
Charlottesville will return to Willie T. Barnett Field at Charlottesville High School on Tuesday night to take on the Covington Lumberjacks. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. on what will be Healthcare Worker Appreciation Night at the yard.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Since their 16-game home win streak in the series was snapped last year, Charlottesville has dropped three of their last four home games against Harrisonburg.
- The 12 runs and 16 hits allowed by Charlottesville are the most this season. Entering the game, they had not been out-hit on the campaign.
- The ‘Sox have now dropped their last three games against Harrisonburg.
