CULPEPER, Va. — The Charlottesville Tom Sox (12-3) escaped Culpeper with a win on Wednesday night, squeaking out a 4-3 victory over the Cavaliers (4-11) thanks to some late-inning heroics at the plate by Tommy Roldan (Virginia). The ‘Sox have now won six-straight games and eight of their last ten, building on their VBL-best record and 3 ½-game lead in the South Division.
As has become routine this season, Charlottesville was all over the basepaths early in the ballgame. Colby Wallace (East Carolina) recorded the first hit of the afternoon in the top of the first as the ‘Sox would go on to load the bases in the frame, but a double-play helped Culpeper wiggle out of the jam.
In the top of the second, Dean Mihos (Coastal Carolina) recorded his first hit of the season by knocking a single into right field, but again the ‘Sox were unable to capitalize with a run.
Charlottesville finally got on the board in the top of the third as Ryan Wynn (Wofford) worked his way around the bases on multiple Cavalier errors, ending the night for Culpeper’s starter in the process.
The ‘Sox left the bases loaded once again in the fifth as the pitcher’s duel continued into the middle innings with Charlottesville clinging to its 1-0 lead.
After 5.1 stellar innings on the mound, ‘Sox starter Palmer O’Beirne (Pittsburgh) was relieved for Marco Levari (Old Dominion). The Cavaliers, who were happy to see anyone but O’Beirne on the bump, quickly capitalized with a single and RBI groundout to knot the game at one apiece.
The Tom Sox responded right back in the top of the seventh with a sac-fly from Roldan that brought home Wynn to break the tie.
But the lead would be short-lived as the Cavaliers were able to get to Levari again in the seventh and eighth innings. A one-out RBI single down the first base line tied the game back up once again in the seventh before Culpeper’s Bennett Fryman led off the eighth by hitting one over the wall for a solo home run to put the Cavaliers ahead for the first time on the night by a score of 3-2.
With Charlottesville’s back against the wall in the top of the ninth, Roldan came up big for the ‘Sox with a two-out, two-RBI hit that brought home both Ethan Gibson (Virginia Tech) and Wallace to put the Sox back in front, 4-3.
“There’s no RBI’s without having your teammates on base,” Roldan said postgame.
Daniel Powell (Kennesaw State) closed things out for the ‘Sox in the ninth, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work to seal Charlottesville’s hard-fought victory.
Up next:
The ‘Sox head to Waynesboro on Thursday for a matchup with the Generals. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Additional Notes:
- Charlottesville’s six-game win streak is their longest this season. They are tied with Strasburg (also active) for the longest win streak in the league this season.
- Tommy Roldan was responsible for three of Charlottesville’s four runs on the night. Across his last two games, Roldan is 4-for-7 with seven RBI, three runs scored, and a home run.
- Tom Sox pitching walked only one batter for the second consecutive game.
- David Wiley extended his hit streak to seven games, tied for the longest by a ‘Sox player this season.
- After a 1-for-3 day with a double and pair of walks, Ryan Wynn is hitting .500 with five RBI, seven runs scored, a pair of doubles, and a home run across his last five contests.
- The Tom Sox scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning for the second time in three games.
