NEW MARKET, Va. – The Charlottesville Tom Sox (22-11) traveled to New Market Tuesday (July 18), looking to build on their offensive outburst during Monday’s doubleheader. It was another offensive day, with 25 total hits between the teams, but not the result they hoped for: a 10-8 loss. The Rebels (15-24) made a statement, jumping out to a ten-run advantage through the first five innings before Charlottesville made the game interesting with a commendable comeback.
Ryan Lynch (Notre Dame) made his second start of the season for the ‘Sox, but he wasn’t his usual self. New Market pounced on Lynch early, taking an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after leadoff hitter Jordan Thurmond singled and came around to score on a wild pitch.
After a scoreless second inning, New Market’s offense came ready to hit in the bottom of the third. Joseph Duffer led off the inning with a single, then following a Thurmond walk and a single from Jared Glinski, the Rebels loaded the bases with nobody out. Jackson Kraemer brought home the first run of the inning with an RBI single, which Kyle Musser followed up with a sacrifice fly to deep left field, making it a 3-0 game. The big hit of the inning came from Carlos Irizarry, who lined a triple into the right field corner, scoring both Glinski and Kramer to extend the lead to five.
Lynch hadn’t allowed a run in 19.2 innings to begin the season but exited the game after giving up five in three innings. He struck out four, walked one, and gave up a season-high six hits.
Luke Calveric (William & Mary) entered the game in the fourth, retiring the side in order, but New Market wasn’t done. After two walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth, Garrett Spikes (Georgia) came into pitch for the second time this season, a sign that the Tom Sox were letting the game go. The Rebels beat up on the outfielder, as a wild pitch and three singles brought five runs home, extending the New Market lead to 10-0. Three runs were credited to Calveric, while the latter two went to Spikes’ credit.
With a position player on the mound and the run-rule looming, the Tom Sox offense was lost just 24 hours after putting up 30 runs in 10 innings during Monday’s doubleheader at Staunton. Through the first five innings, Connor Hincks (Notre Dame) was the only player to record a hit. But once the sixth inning started, something clicked for Charlotttesville.
Brice Martinez (Wofford) led off the inning with a single, and then Hincks immediately drove him in with a double into left center, giving the ‘Sox their first run. Brady Gumpf (Notre Dame) and Nathan Fink (Florida Southwestern) both reached base to load the bases with one out, setting up the bottom of the ‘Sox order to keep the comeback going. Henry Ford (Virginia) answered the call by collecting his first RBI of the night with a single, making it 10-2. With the bases still loaded and the ‘Sox in desperate need of a big hit to make the deficit more manageable, Kalvin Alexander (Georgia Southwestern) delivered. Alexander cranked a 2-1 fastball over the wall in left center for Charlottesville’s second grand slam of the season, making the score to 10-6, and bringing energy back into the Tom Sox dugout.
The ‘Sox crept closer to tying the game in the top of the seventh, as Ford drove in Fink with an RBI single, and Sergio Rivera (Florida Southwestern) collected his first RBI since July 6 to make it a 10-8 game.
With the game suddenly competitive, Spikes remained on the mound for the ‘Sox, and did everything he could to keep Charlottesville in the game. After giving up two runs in the fifth, Spikes threw three scoreless innings, setting up the Tom Sox with one final chance to tie the game in the top of the ninth.
With one out, Fink doubled off the centerfield wall, putting the tying run at the plate, but Chris Arroyo (Florida) and Ford struck out, ending the Tom Sox’s chances at a comeback.
With the loss, Charlottesville now trails in the season series with New Market, 2-1, but can split the season series with a win on Friday in the final matchup of the season between the two teams.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
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New Market remains the only team the Tom Sox trail in the all-time series, with a 12-15 series deficit.
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The Tom Sox have multiple grand slams in a season for the first time in team history.
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After hitting two triples in their first 29 games, the ‘Sox have hit two in their last four games.
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Garrett Spikes’ four innings are the most ever in a game by a Tom Sox position player who is not listed as a 2-way player. Spikes has now made six pitching appearances in his three Tom Sox seasons with a 3.00 ERA in nine innings and seven strikeouts.
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Charlottesville’s six wild pitches tie a team record.
UP NEXT
The Tom Sox will look to sweep the season series against the Covington Lumberjacks, returning to CHO Airport Field Wednesday night for Bark in the Park night. First pitch is set for 7 P.M.
