Combs Homers Twice as 'Sox Defeat Covington

By: Luke Stefanisko

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Two home runs from Caiden Combs (Auburn) and five strong innings of pitching from Chris Fortunato (Stevenson) powered the Tom Sox to an 8-4 win over the Covington Lumberjacks.

The matchup, originally scheduled for Friday, July 10th, was one that was decided by six runs across the first two innings.

Lucas Cash (Bridgewater) got the nod on the mound for the 'Sox in his first start since early July. He allowed two runs on a single in the first but limited any further damage in the inning.

Charlottesville wouldn't take long to respond as the first two batters, Xavier McCoury (Liberty) and Harrison Campi (Wofford), both reached base. Tommy Landsnes drove in McCoury with a sacrifice fly, before Combs blasted his first homer of the game to make it 3-2.

Ben Cardone (VMI) drove in another run before the end of the frame, making it 4-2.

Cash worked a scoreless second, giving way to the 'Sox offense again in the bottom of the second. Combs got his second at-bat and didn't waste it, sending a no-doubter over the left field foul pole, making it a 6-2 game.

Another run came across for Covington to cut the lead in the third, but Cash bounced back to finish three complete innings. He was lifted for Fortunato after the starter began the fourth inning with a walk. Fortunato completed the half-inning to begin his streak of four scoreless frames.

Charlottesville added its final two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth, with Cardone scoring on a balk and McCoury scoring on an error.

Fortunato kept the ball in play over the next three innings, collecting quick and easy outs to get through the seventh inning. He would allow his only blemish in the eighth when he allowed a solo shot for Covington to cut the lead to four.

Cole Draper (Wofford) took to the mound to shut the door in the ninth for the first time since mid-June, striking out the first two batters he saw and inducing a groundball to first to end the contest.

UP NEXT: Charlottesville (16-16) takes Tuesday off before hosting the Culpeper Cavaliers (14-16) on Wednesday in a matchup with huge playoff implications.