Tom Sox Rally in the Eighth to Defeat Culpeper
By: Matt Becker
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - After getting postponed the night prior, the Tom Sox are back in action today as the team takes on the Culpeper Cavalliers. The ‘Sox look to get their first win streak of the season, following a 5-3 win in Harrisonburg.
Let’s see how the game turned out:
In the top of the second, Lucas Cash (Bridgewater) got out of a jam with two runners on by inducing weak contact using the knuckleball on back-to-back hitters.
On the flip side of the inning, the Sox got two runners on via a walk with two outs. Looking to deliver a back-breaking RBI, Lucas Ream (Shippensburg) stepped up and ripped a single up the middle, but Aiden Harris was sent home and tagged out at the plate to retire the side.
In the top of the third, Cash set down the Cavaliers in order, propelled by a stellar catch by Ream, running into the bullpen in right field to make the grab.
In the top of the fourth, the first two runners got on base due to a walk and a single. With one out, Johnny Sutryk, who hit the walk-off three-run homer in the first meeting between these teams, ripped a sharp line drive into left field for a single to make it 1-0. Cash was able to limit the damage as he forced back-to-back flyouts to Tommy Landsnes in left field.
After getting two outs in the top of the 6th, the inning continued on a single from Joey Rogers, which knocked Cash out of the game. Asher Sabom (Chipola) came in for relief and was not able to strand the runner as Rogers came home to score on an error to make it 2-0. Another run would score on a single to give Culpeper a three-run lead.
The final line for Cash was five and two-thirds innings pitched, six hits, two runs, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts.
Tanner Craytor singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and advanced on an error. Xavier McCoury (Liberty) followed suit by ripping a single to right field to drive Craytor home to make it 3-1.
Lucas Arbelaez (Randolph-Macon) made his ‘Sox debut and became the first player to pitch for the Tom Sox from Charlottesville High School. Arbelaez got two batters out, and Dom Cafferillo (Georgetown) cut down a runner stealing second for the third out.
In the bottom of the eighth, the ‘Sox got two runners aboard on a single and a walk as Grayson McCollum (Kennesaw State) stepped up to the plate needing to deliver. McCollum ripped a hit down the line for a double to score a run. All of a sudden, the lead was cut to 1.
Landsnes walked up to the plate and ripped a go-ahead double to score two runs. The double parade continued as Harris scorched a double down the left field line to make it 5-3 ‘Sox. CHO Airport Field rose to its feet and applauded the rally from the ‘Sox. A monumental four-run eighth inning, when all looked bleak, gave the Tom Sox life.
Trevor Booton (Auburn), who got activated today, came into the game looking to close out the game for the ‘Sox in the top of the ninth. After walking the leadoff batter, Booton retired two in a row until Ty Powell notched a two-out single. All of a sudden, the tying run was on base with the go-ahead run at the plate. Booton struck out Sutryk to get the save and give the Tom Sox a 5-3 win.
Up next: The Tom Sox take the trip to Covington to take on the Lumberjacks as the ‘Sox look to extend the winning streak to three games. Evan Alwine will take the mound for a 4:00 P.M. first pitch at Casey Field.
