'Sox Hold Off Harrisonburg on the Road
By: Landon Weaver
HARRISONBURG, Va - After a lengthy weather delay, the ‘Sox came out ready to go, getting ahead in the second inning and staying ahead for the remainder of the game, never relinquishing the lead en route to a 5-3 victory.
Xavier McCoury and Brandon Dahlman (Liberty) came to play on Thursday evening. McCoury shined on both sides of the ball. The shortstop for the ‘Sox registered a clutch hit in the top of the eighth.
With Charlottesville having not scored since the top of the third, the Tom Sox were in desperate need of some insurance late in the ball game as they led 4-3. After Chase Jackson (Seminole State College) stole second to get into scoring position with two outs, McCoury stepped up to the plate. At that point, he hadn’t registered a hit in the contest, but when the moment mattered most, he delivered.
McCoury batted an RBI single to put the ‘Sox up 5-3, and from there his Liberty teammate finished things off in the ninth, seeing out a victory on the road.
Before the clutch plays on both ends late in the game, it was the Luke Craddock show in the beginning. He drove in a trio of runs across two innings, singlehandedly giving the ‘Sox a 4-0 lead after the third frame.
This included a ground-rule double over the centerfield wall, 400 feet away from the batter's box. That powerful hit drove in what would end up being the winning run when all was said and done.
As consistent as the offense was, the pitching was solid from the start. Patrick Dudley started things off for the ‘Sox, delivering three innings, allowing just one run and providing three strikeouts.
As Harrisonburg chipped away in the middle innings, the ‘Sox went to their bullpen in hopes that Dahlman could replicate his magic from just a few days ago. In his last outing Sunday against Covington, the Flames’ ace delivered 4.2 innings of perfect pitching, retiring every single batter he faced.
Thursday’s game against Harrisonburg followed a similar script. Dahlman picked up his first save of the season, throwing 3.1 innings of scoreless and hitless baseball. He also logged five more strikeouts to bring his season total to 19 K’s through three games played. That number currently leads the entire Valley Baseball League.
The biggest strikeout for him against Harrisonburg came in the bottom of the ninth with runners on second and third. Dahlman delivered a three-pitch strikeout, sucking the life out of the home team. The Turks grounded into the final out, and the game finished with the ‘Sox taking a 5-3 win back to Charlottesville.
Up Next: Charlottesville (2-8) will attempt to ride their momentum into their first home game of the week as they host the Staunton Braves (6-4), who are coming off an 11-1 defeat to the Purcellville Cannons. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. at CHO Airport Field.
