'Sox Fall to Generals Despite Late Rally

By: Bryan Portney

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A late home run by Bryce Neely (Virginia) was not enough as the Tom Sox fell to the Waynesboro Generals by a score of 9-6 to snap a three-game win streak on Saturday.

Garrison Wight got the start against his former team from last year and pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the first, which was capped off by a breaking-ball swinging strikeout.

Wight now has a three-inning scoreless streak to start his season and is one of only three ‘Sox pitchers to not allow an earned run.

He would then pass the baton to Nolan Bethel (Kennesaw State) in the top of the second, who would leave two runners in scoring position in another scoreless frame.

Bethel made his first appearance since May 30 in a road start against Culpeper.

The Tom Sox pitching staff got out of traffic in the first two frames, as opposing batters went 1-for-14 with runners on in that stretch and in last night’s win over Covington combined.

The bats looked to continue the momentum in the bottom of the second as Brock Clayton led off with a standup double to left center off the base of the wall for the squad’s first hit of the game.

It was the third game in a row that the ‘Sox hit a double, which is tied for its second-longest streak of the season.

Speaking of streaks, Tommy Landsnes extended his team-leading on-base streak to 10 with two walks in the game.

Eric Davis (Roanoke) entered the game in relief in the top of the third, striking out the first batter he saw and retiring the side with a fly out to Neely in center.

The Generals scored three runs combined in the top of the third and fourth innings, and the squad matched that total with a bases-clearing double in the top of the fifth to make it a 6-0 game.

Sam Summerlin kicked off the comeback effort with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, advancing to third on a throwing error. He followed that up with a sac fly to make it a 7-2 game in the bottom of the sixth.

Neely added onto that in the next at-bat with an RBI single through the left side that drove Chase Jackson home for a 7-3 deficit.

After a two-run top of the eighth for the Generals, the Tom Sox responded with two of their own in the home half as Clayton brought home Landsnes on a bloop single to right. Jackson added on with a double play that scored Caiden Combs (Auburn).

With the ‘Sox down to their last three outs, Neely crushed a leadoff solo home run to left in the top of the ninth for his second long ball of the year.

With that homer, the Tom Sox have hit home runs in back-to-back games for the first time since May 29–30.

Though the ‘Sox added some more traffic with a double by Luke Craddock, it was not enough as the squad fell short of a comeback.

UP NEXT: The Tom Sox (10-12) will host the Harrisonburg Turks (10-11) on Sunday. The ‘Sox are 0.5 games behind the Turks for the fourth playoff spot in the South Division and look to clinch the season series with a win. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. EST.