'Sox Secure 9-2 Victory Over Covington

By: Matt Becker

COVINGTON, Va. - After officially clinching the three-seed in the South Division, the Tom Sox travel to its last regular-season road game of the year in Covington.

It's a big night in Covington as the team is honoring Tommy Garten with a ceremony before the game, as well as dollar dogs and fireworks.

While this game does not have any implications for the ‘Sox, it means the world to the Lumberjacks with its season on the line.

Toeing the rubber tonight for the Tom Sox is Evan Alwine, looking to improve on his 2.25 earned run average in his last start of the regular season.

Let’s see how the game played out:

After the Tom Sox went down in order, Alwine forced two ground balls and a fly out to get through his first inning of work.

With two outs in the top of the second, Lucas Ream (Shippensburg) ripped a single over the first baseman's head to bring in the first run of the game.

In the bottom of the second, Dom Cafferillo (Georgetown) gunned a runner trying to steal second base to retire the side.

In the top of the third with runners at first and second, Tommy Landsnes smoked a single to drive in a run to make it 2-0.

Alwine continued to stay in cruise control, inducing three fly balls to set down the Lumberjacks in order.

After the Tom Sox left a runner stranded at third, Alwine got himself into a jam, allowing a run to score but leaving the tying run at second.

In the bottom of the fifth, Chris Fortunato (Stevenson) took the mound, ending Alwine's night with a final line of four innings pitched, two hits, one run, one earned run, no walks and one strikeout.

With a runner at third and two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Landsnes made a diving catch in center field to keep the Tom Sox up a run.

In the top of the seventh, the Tom Sox put runners at first and second with one out. After a walk, the bases were loaded for Aiden Harris (VCU). After battling in a two-strike count, the Ram mashed a ball to left field for a no-doubt grand slam to make it 6-1.

Covington scratched a run across in the bottom of the seventh to make it 6-2, and the Tom Sox were close to padding the lead but stranded the bases loaded in the top of the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, Bryce Neely (Virginia) plated another run and Grayson McCollum (Kennesaw State) scored two more on a double to make it 9-2.

The Tom Sox went on to make it a final, winning by seven runs and taking the season series against Covington, winning five of the six games. The ‘Sox are now three games over .500 and will officially finish the season with a winning record.

UP NEXT: The Tom Sox host the Waynesboro Generals in the final regular-season game of the 2026 season. While the game has no implications for the Tom Sox, it means a lot for the Generals as the team can win the South Division with a win over the ‘Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 P.M EST at CHO Airport Field.