STAUNTON, Va. – The Charlottesville Tom Sox defeated the Staunton Braves in their final game at Moxie Stadium, 13-5. The ‘Sox had a season-high 18 hits and hit three home runs in the game, mirroring the season finale last season which also featured three long balls hit.
Drew Bryan (Chicago) started on the mound for the Sox in his seventh appearance of the season. In three innings, Bryan had three strikeouts, three walks, let up four runs and allowed two hits.
Charlottesville started the scoring in the second. Matthew Prevesk (Florida) hit a single to bring in Trey Yunger (Wofford) from third for the first run of the game. After Brody Moss (Auburn) reached on a fielder’s choice, Nic Ericsson (VCU) hit a 3-run home run to center field to make it 4-0. With two down, Cole Wagner (Georgia) hit a line drive double to bring in Christian Martin (Virginia Tech) and make it 5-0 Charlottesville after two complete.
Staunton came back with four of their own in the third inning. After a 1-out walk to the 9-hole hitter, Nicolas Rodriguez blasted an RBI triple down the right field line for the Braves’ first run. A pair of Charlottesville errors and solid contact from Staunton allowed the next five batters in the inning to reach and make it 5-4.
Carter Cunningham (East Carolina) heard Staunton’s response and fired back himself. A 2-run double scored both Ericsson and Kyle Edwards (Old Dominion) to make it 7-4 in the 4th.
After a pair of walks to lead off the fourth for Staunton, Braden Halladay (High Point) relieved Bryan. He faced a bases-loaded threat after Joe Delossantos hit a single, but all hopes were ended after Yunger threw a laser to home. The throw got the tagging runner out at home for a double play and got the ‘Sox out of the inning.
After a quiet couple of innings, Kalvin Alexander (Florida Southwestern) was due as he hit a solo home run to center field in the seventh, his first of the season. The Braves’ Delossantos responded with an eerily similar solo home run to center field, bringing the score in the seventh to 8-5.
Charlottesville put all hopes of a Staunton comeback away in the eighth. Cunningham came up with yet another RBI, hitting a double down the first base line all the way to the corner of the ballpark. Martin scored with ease from first. Shortly after, with Cunningham on base, Wagner hit the third impressive home run of the night, bringing the score to 11-5.
The ‘Sox’s final two runs of the game came in the ninth. After Moss walked to open the inning, Kyle Edwards (ODU) hit a single to left field to bring him home. He advanced to third after a stolen base and a single from Martin, then Cunningham hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring him in and score the 13th (and final) run of the game.
Braden Halladay pitched the final six innings of the game and struck out a season-high seven batters in what Head Coach Ramon Garza called the “best pitching performance of the season, considering the [seeding] circumstances.” He let up only one run – the Delossantos home run – and walked none of the 22 batters he faced.
The win moves Charlottesville’s record to 22-14, and just one game behind second-place Waynesboro in the South division standings. They will have a chance to take the lead tomorrow, facing the division-leading Harrisonburg Turks in a home doubleheader beginning at 3 P.M. Admission is free courtesy of Carter Bank & Trust, and the second game will be Bark in the Park Night sponsored by the CASPCA.
Additional Notes
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Charlottesville finishes the season 5-3 against Staunton. They scored double-digit runs in four of the five wins.
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Braden Halladay is the third ‘Sox pitcher to throw six innings this season, joining Emmett Bice on July 3 at Winchester and Luke Wagner on the 10th at Front Royal. His seven strikeouts are the second-most by a ‘Sox pitcher this season, trailing only Trey Yesavage (8) against Strasburg on Tuesday.
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Cole Wagner extended his on-base streak to 27 games, now tied for the second-longest all-time by a Tom Sox player.
