Pitching Propels 'Sox to 4-2 Win Over Culpeper

By: Matt Becker

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Tom Sox magic number is two as it takes on the Culpeper Cavillers to start the final week of the season. Tonight it will be Gary Gibson II on the bump for the ‘Sox against Alexander Crudder.

The Cavillers lost last night, 15-0, to the Harrisonburg Turks and will look to bounce back with a very thin roster.

Let’s see how the game played out:

In the top of the first, Gibson had a one-two-three inning, including a groundout, flyout and strikeout.

After the ‘Sox went down in order, Gibson followed suit with another one-two-three inning in only seven pitches.

In the top of the third, Gibson set the Cavaliers down in order once again with two strikeouts on 20 pitches, throwing 19 strikes in that span.

With one out in the top of the fourth and a runner at first, Gibson stayed calm and forced a double play to retire the side and kept on rolling.

After a leadoff single from Grayson McCollum (Kennesaw State) and two walks to load the bases in the bottom of the fourth, Harrison Campi (Wofford) smoked a ball down the left-field line for a two-RBI double.

Gibson was dealing with some trouble in the top of the fifth when a run was scored on an RBI single, but the right-handed pitcher stranded the runner at second to keep the ‘Sox ahead 2-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Xavier McCoury (Liberty) walked and stole a base, which brought up the red-hot Caiden Combs (Auburn). The Tiger knocked a ball into center field to score McCoury, which gave the ‘Sox a 3-1 lead.

Nolan Bethel (Kennesaw State) toed the rubber to start the top of the six meaning Gibson’s night is over.

The righty went five innings pitched, four hits, one run, one earned run, no walks and five strikeouts.

Culpeper was able to scrape a run across the board to make it 3-2, but Bethel was able to limit the damage and get the two outs with runners in scoring position.

In the bottom of the sixth, Christian Dewey (George Washington) and Brayden Bachman (East Carolina) singled to put runners at the corners with one out. McCollum stepped up to the plate with two outs and hit a single up the middle to make it 4-2.

With a runner at first in the top of the eighth, Bethel forced a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Bethel stranded the tying run at first with one out via a strikeout and a groundout.

The Tom Sox are now one win away from clinching the playoffs. What a journey it’s been for this squad, from 0-7 to being one game away from the playoffs and being one game over .500.

UP NEXT: The Tom Sox travel to Staunton as the team looks to win the series against the Braves. It could be a great night for the ‘Sox as the team could clinch a playoff berth with a win.