CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Charlottesville Tom Sox (13-7) hosted the Culpeper Cavaliers (9-14) Sunday night, extending their winning streak to four games with a 11-4 victory.
Right-hander Shane Stossel (Lebanon Valley) made his first start for the Tom Sox, firing up the home crowd with three consecutive strikeouts in the top of the first. Charlottesville threatened with two runners in scoring position but was retired before they could capitalize.
Stossel ran into a jam in the second after a leadoff double, a hit-by-pitch, and a double steal saw Culpeper on the verge of striking first. He battled back and struck out two more to work out of the top of the second. The momentum shifted as the ‘Sox took the lead in the bottom half, as a Kyle Edwards (Old Dominion) double drove in two runs.
Stossel returned to toss another clean inning in the top of the third. Charlottesville was retired in the bottom half as the score held 2-0 after three.
Stossel failed to record an out in the fourth inning, giving up a run before Luke Calveric (William & Mary) entered in relief to make his team debut. Calveric stumbled out of the gate as a single, error, walk, and double gave the Cavaliers a 4-2 lead, though three of the four were credited to Stossel. Catcher Salvy Alvarez (Florida) caught a runner stealing to stop the bleeding. The ‘Sox failed to respond, going down in order.
Calveric found his footing in the top of the fifth as he cruised through 1-2-3 inning. Charlottesville answered in the bottom half as a three-run home run from Alex Bouche (Old Dominion) propelled the ‘Sox back into a 5-4 lead. The shot to deep left-center was Bouche’s first of the season and Charlottesville’s third home run in the last four games.
In the top of the sixth, Calveric recorded another out before Chris Arroyo (Florida) took the ball to close out the inning. Charlottesville went scoreless in the bottom half as the lead remained just one run.
Arroyo tossed a scoreless frame before the ‘Sox added insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch-runner Sergio Rivera (Florida Southwestern) applied pressure on the basepaths, forcing a throwing error in a play at the plate that resulted in two runs. David Wiley (Wofford) knocked a shot to right field to bring around another run as the lead extended to 8-4.
Arroyo continued to shut down the Cavaliers, aided by a highlight reel backhand putout from third baseman Connor Hincks (Notre Dame) in the top of the eighth. Charlottesville tacked on three more, walking four consecutive times before a Hincks infield single made it 11-4— the first time they scored double digit runs at home.
Caleb Ketchie (Longwood) came in to close the game and the ‘Sox sealed their fourth straight comeback victory on a game-ending double play.
The Old Dominion duo of Edwards and Bouche paved the way on the offensive side, going 2-4 and 2-2 respectively and combining for six total RBI. Stossel struck out five in three innings to earn the win, allowing three earned runs on three hits and no walks. The ‘Sox bullpen combined for six innings, allowing one run on four hits with four walks and five punchouts.
Charlottesville will seek to continue its winning streak Monday at 7 p.m. at CHO Airport Field as the Waynesboro Generals come to town for the annual Independence Day clash.
Additional Notes
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Charlottesville has won their last three home games after starting the season 2-5 at CHO Airport Field.
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The ‘Sox scored double-digit runs at home for the first time this season.
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The Tom Sox are now 3-0 against the Cavaliers on the season, securing the season series against Culpeper for the first time.
