CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – How else did we think the ‘Sox would get out of their losing streak? Thanks to some late game heroics by Garrett Spikes (Georgia), the Charlottesville Tom Sox (10-9) rallied late to knock off the Harrisonburg Turks (11-9) in a South division showdown at Charlottesville High School, 3-2.
After nine innings, the score was tied at two, and the ‘Sox headed into extra innings for the second time this season. Spikes came up clutch at the plate, belting the ball into deep right territory for a base hit and bringing Matthew Prevesk (Florida) home. This commenced the celebration, with Spikes and his teammates running into the outfield with water thrown everywhere, ending a four-game losing streak.
Early in the game, not much seemed to change from the doubleheader against the New Market Rebels. The Tom Sox bats were slow to start and could not create any offense, as evident by their two hits through the first six innings. Harrisonburg, on the other hand, struck in the second inning. Two Turk batters walked, which set up a two-run double by Matthew Mamatas. The game from then on was quiet, as the Turks managed only two hits of their own through the next five innings. The seventh inning was where the game got interesting.
It seemed that the ‘Sox simply needed time to sing and stretch to get going. Satchell Norman (Florida Southwestern) led off the inning with a single and was the first runner on base for the Tom Sox since the third. Cole Wagner (Georgia) shot a double into right field to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. A Logan Amiss (VCU) sacrifice fly went deep enough and allowed Norman to touch home plate and end the Tom Sox’s two-game scoring drought. A single by Brody Moss’s (Auburn) then scored Wagner and tied the game up at two apiece.
No more runs were scored through nine to send the game into extras. Chandler Marsh (Georgia) and the Turks’ Casey Smith both got out of the ninth inning unscathed after facing bases loaded situations.
In the bottom of the tenth, Prevesk was the ghost runner and moved to third on a Cole Wagner flyout. With two outs, Spikes delivered the knockout blow to the Turks with a walk-off single and stopped the ‘Sox’s losing skid.
With only two runs allowed on the day, the bullpen again kept the game close, even with the lack of offensive firepower through six innings. As a group, they struck out 16 batters but walked nine.
Marty Gair (UNC Wilmington) made his second start of the season, showing off his cannon arm early by sending down two in the first inning. In three innings, he struck out four and gave up one hit, two earned runs, and three walks. Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman (East Carolina) came into relief for four innings. He sent five batters down on strikes while allowing two hits and four walks. In Chandler Marsh’s two innings, four guys went down on strikes, one batter recorded a hit, while one more reached on a base on balls. Jack Billings (Coastal Carolina) finished the day out and got out of a jam with bases loaded in the 10th, striking out the side and allowing a hit and a walk.
The Tom Sox now sit ½ game back from the Turks for second place in the division and will look to get another win streak rolling. The ‘Sox return to action on July 1 against the Staunton Braves at Charlottesville High School for Christmas in July night. First pitch is set for 7 P.M. Free admission to all 2022 home games are free, courtesy of Carter Bank & Trust.
Additional Notes
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The Tom Sox have played ten innings in each of their last two 9-inning games.
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Three of the four games between the Tom Sox and Turks have ended in walk-off fashion, with Harrisonburg walking off twice at JMU and Charlottesville tonight.
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The Tom Sox struck out 16 batters, tied for the fourth-most in a game in team history.
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Satchell Norman has reached base in 13 of the 14 games he has played in.
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The Tom Sox went 23 innings without scoring – from the eighth inning on Saturday until the seventh tonight.
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The ‘Sox’s ten walks allowed are tied for the second-most all-time.
