CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Wahoo spirit was in the air as the Charlottesvillle Tom Sox defeated the Staunton Braves in their annual UVA Sports Night. Fans were decked out in blue and orange as many UVA student-athletes attended tonight’s game, participating in various crowd-engaging events.
Trey Yesavage (ECU) started on the mound for Charlottesville, earning his first win of the season. In three innings, he had three strikeouts, two walks, and allowed three hits.
The ‘Sox’s bats were hot early. In the top of the second, Carter Cunningham (ECU) hit a solo home run on his first pitch to put the Tom Sox on the board, his second of the season.
The Tom Sox didn’t stop with two runners on base in the third inning, Trey Yunger (Wofford) hit a line drive double to left field bringing in two runs. Matthew Prevesk (Florida) then hit a single to left field, allowing Yunger to score. The score at the end of the third was 4-0.
Justin Humenay (VCU) relieved Yesavage in the fourth putting up three strikeouts, three walks, one hit and letting up a run in three innings of work.
Humenay got himself in a jam with two runners on base in the inning, as the runner on third scored after getting the force out at first. After an overthrow by catcher Satchell Norman, another runner scored. The Braves crept up with a score of 4-2.
Charlottesville got one of those runs back in the bottom half, however. In his usual clutch fashion, Satchell Norman (Florida Southwestern) hit a line drive double to left center, bringing in Christian Martin all the way from first.
More damage was done in the fifth. With both Cunningham and Yunger on base, Prevesk hit a single to center field; bringing in two runs to make the score 5-3.
To everyone’s excitement, John Armstrong (Auburn) and his world-famous sliders (not the food) relieved Humenay in the seventh. In two innings, he had four strikeouts, two walks and allowed two hits.
Trouble bubbled slightly as Felix Diaz of the Braves hit a home run to left field bringing the score 7-3 in the sixth, but the ‘Sox were able to keep their lead.
Even though he lost his “flow” after getting a fresh cut, Jack Billings (Coastal Carolina) closed the game and evidently enough, did not lose all of his pitching flow. He struck out the side, but allowed two runs on three hits in a walk in the ninth. In the end, he was able to battle back with runners on first and second and get the game-clinching strikeout to end it with a final score of 7-5.
The Tom Sox play again Thursday (July 14) at Charlottesville High School at 7 P.M. against the Waynesboro Generals for Educator Appreciation Night. As always, game admission is free courtesy of Carter Bank and Trust.
Additional Notes
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With a walk in the third inning, Cole Wagner extended his on-base streak to 21 games – taking sole possession of sixth all-time in Tom Sox history.
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Matthew Prevesk became the fourth ‘Sox hitter to record a 4-hit game this season (the fifth 4-hit game total), hitting three singles and a double. He batted in a team-high three runs in the process.
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Carter Cunningham extended his hitting streak to a team-high nine games with his home run in the second.
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‘Sox batters were picked off, caught stealing, or doubled off their base four times in the game. Christian Martin was picked off in the first inning and doubled off again in the eighth.
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Tom Sox pitchers struck out double-digit Braves for the third time in four home meetings.
