Gamster’s Big Day Lifts Tom Sox Past Lumberjacks, 12-7
COVINGTON, Va. – The Charlottesville Tom Sox (12-12) blitzed the Covington Lumberjacks, 12-7, for their second win at Casey Field this season.
The ‘Sox battled through adversity early and scored a season-high in runs behind a big day from Preston Gamster (TCU).Bullpen arms Luke Craytor (Virginia Tech),Lane Duff, McCall Biemiller (Florida) and Jason Ban (Davidson)all shined as well, helping the ‘Sox climb back to the .500 mark on the season.
The Tom Sox offense continued its recent stretch of reaching the scoreboard early, plating two runners in the first. Patrick Niehus (Gardner-Webb) and Kyle Langley (James Madison)both collected RBI base hits to get the offense going in the top half of the inning.
Evan Alwine got the nod on the mound, but for the first time this season, faced major struggles. He gave up a three-run homer which put the ‘Sox in a 3-2 deficit.
Once Alwine came back out to warm up for the second, he was taken out of the game due to an unspecified injury, meaning that Craytor came into the game on short notice.
That didn’t faze the Hokie, though. Craytor navigated through the next three innings, striking out the side in the third and holding the Lumberjacks lead to one.
In the top of the fifth, the ‘Sox offense finally broke through with a response. Lee Sowers (North Carolina)led off the inning with a single and found his way to third via a stolen base and a throwing error. Perry Hargett(North Carolina) and Jackson Sirois found their way on base as well before Gamster drove in his first run with a fielder’s choice.
Hudson Lutterman (Virginia Tech)took a pitch off of his chest to bring home another runner, and Langley worked a great at-bat to walk in one more. Evan Taveras (Miami) punctuated the inning with a two-RBI single, making the score, 7-3 ’Sox.
Duff entered the ballgame in the fifth and stranded a runner on third, turning things back over to the ‘Sox offense once more.
Hargett and Sirois both worked walks in the top of the sixth. That gave way to Gamster, who ripped one into left-center for a triple, which turned into a little league homer after a throwing error.
Gamster added to his phenomenal performance in the eighth, blasting a solo shot into left field to add to the ‘Sox lead.
“The center field stands, they are a big batter’s eye, and I can’t lose the ball as easily,” Gamster said as a credit to his success.
Later in that same inning, Niehus doubled and scored on a bloop single from Lutterman to push the lead up to nine.
After Saxon Roberts (Auburn)entered in the bottom of the eighth and was tagged for some runs, Biemiller entered and closed out the inning to stifle the Lumberjacks comeback attempt. Ban made his way into the ballgame to shut the door for the ‘Sox, as they took the lead in the season series over Covington.
UP NEXT:
The ‘Sox return home tomorrow for a battle over second place in the South Division against the Staunton Braves. Tomorrow’s game is our Military Appreciation Night in which all active-duty military and veterans will receive free entry. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. from CHO Airport Field at Charlottesville High School.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
All four of Preston Gamster’s hits at Casey Field this season have been extra-base hits (Home run, two triples, double)
Gamster has eight RBI in the last two games
Gamster, Hudson Lutterman, Patrick Niehus, and Evan Taveras all recorded multi-hit games, with Gamster now leading the team with six
Niehus’ on base streak is up to seven games
Luke Craytor reached a new season-high in innings pitched (3.0)
Jackson Sirois walked three times in a single game for the third time this summer
The Tom Sox tied a season-high in stolen bases with eight
