Tom Sox Split Doubleheader Against Cavaliers

CULPEPER, Va.– The Charlottesville Tom Sox (6-9) split their doubleheader at Culpeper on Saturday. Game one was close all the way through, but the ‘Sox pulled away late and beat the Cavaliers, 5-2. Game two was a different story, as Culpeper used a six-run fourth inning and stellar pitching to put an end to Charlottesville’s three-game winning streak.

GAME ONE:

The ‘Sox started out of the gates slowly, unable to register a hit for the first three innings of play.

After a Culpeper home run in the bottom of the second, Alex Bingler (James Madison)struck out the next batter he faced, beginning a scoreless stretch for Culpeper that lasted until the end of the contest. Bingler got his third and final strikeout of the day in the third before being replaced in the bottom of the fourth.

It was Patrick Niehus (Gardner-Webb)who ended the Tom Sox hitless streak in the top of the fourth with a stand-up double. He was soon brought home by Andrew Mannelly (Wofford), who had a double of his own to make the score 2-1 in favor of Culpeper.

After another two seamless innings of defense from the ‘Sox, their bats were firing again in the top of the sixth. James Nunnallee (Virginia)reached first on a walk, and he eventually scored courtesy of another Mannelly RBI base hit, tying the game at two apiece. Hudson Lutterman (Virginia Tech)followed suit with an RBI double, bringing home Mannelly and giving the ‘Sox a 3-2 lead.

Brandon Eldridge (Florida Southwestern)came into the game with runners on second and first in the bottom of the sixth for the ‘Sox. He was able to calmly retire the side by inducing a 4-6-3 double play, and then caught a Cavalier looking to send the game to the seventh.

For the ‘Sox, they went down in order in the seventh, keeping their lead at 3-2. In the eighth, Nunnallee found himself at third base. From this promising position, the Tom Sox attempted a double steal, but Nunnallee was tagged out at home to end the inning.

With the Tom Sox still leading 3-2 going into the top of the ninth, an insurance run was desperately needed. Enter pinch hitter Tanner Schaedel (Old Dominion), who stepped up to the plate and launched a two-run homer over the right center field wall to make the score, 5-2.

Tom Sox closer Jason Ban (Davidson)came into the game for another save opportunity. As was the case against Harrisonburg on Thursday, and all season long, Ban did his job, and the ‘Sox picked up their sixth win of the season, and their third in a row.

GAME TWO:

Game two of the doubleheader from Culpeper did not follow the same script as the first game did.

In the seven-inning contest, both teams were held scoreless from good performances on the mound for the first three and a half innings.

It wasn’t until the Cavaliers took advantage of a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the fourth. Culpeper scored six runs on only one hit, capitalizing on free passes issued by the Tom Sox pitchers.

From that point on, the ‘Sox were unable to muster up any sort of offense for the remaining three innings. The Cavaliers put two more runs on the board late in the game, sealing the split for this doubleheader.

UP NEXT:

The ‘Sox will be back in action tomorrow night against the New Market Rebels at 7 p.m. for Bark in the Park night at CHO Airport Field. Tune in to our livestream on either YouTube or Facebook Live.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• McCall Biemiller (Florida)made his Tom Sox debut in game one, pitching an inning and two thirds while allowing no runs

• Tanner Schaedel’s homer in game one made him the first ‘Sox player this summer to hit multiple home runs

• Schaedel’s home run was also the first pinch-hit homer for the Tom Sox since Gavin Miller hit one at Culpeper on June 7, 2024

• Jason Ban’s save in game one was his fourth of the summer, the second most in the Valley League (Woodstock’s Zane Starling has five)

• Andrew Mannelly’s batting average now sits at .438, which would lead the team if he had enough plate appearances to qualify

• Kyle Langley’s (James Madison)11-game hitting and on base streak both came to an end following his 0-3 performance in game two