NEW MARKET, Va. – Runs were at a premium on Friday night when the Charlottesville Tom Sox (23-12) faced off against the New Market Rebels (15-27), as the ‘Sox came away with an 8-1 victory.
It was the second time this week the two squads suited up against each other, and the Tom Sox were looking to avenge their 10-8 loss on Tuesday night. After dropping its last two contests, Charlottesville wanted to open Friday’s game with a fast start.
Brice Martinez (Wofford) lined a one-out double into left-center field, but Aidan Teel (Virginia) struck out for the second out of the inning, and it appeared as if the ‘Sox were going to leave a runner in scoring position. However, Nathan Fink (Florida Southwestern) chopped a ground ball into left field, which scored Martinez. The two-out rally was extended when Connor Hincks (Notre Dame) flared a ball into right-center field that evaded the grasp of the centerfielder Jackson Kramer. The ball ran all the way to the wall as Hincks raced into third for an RBI triple, extending the lead to 2-0.
The second inning began when Jacob Ference (Salisbury) stepped into the box, making his Tom Sox debut. The first pitch Ference saw, he crushed to deep center field for a solo shot.
With a three-run advantage, Jeremy Goins (Tampa) settled in on the mound. He allowed just one hit over three innings to begin the game.
After a scoreless fourth, the ‘Sox continued to add to their lead in the fifth as Kyle Edwards (Old Dominion) tallied a one-out single. He came around to score when Martinez laced a pitch down the third baseline for a double. Charlottesville tacked on its fifth run of the game by way of a Teel RBI single that scored Martinez.
To open the bottom half of the inning, head coach Lyndon Coleman went to his bullpen, calling upon Caleb Ketchie (Longwood). Goins finished the game tossing four shutout frames while allowing just one hit.
The New Market offense came alive in the fifth when Jude Drzemiecki notched an RBI single into right field, which scored Luke Smith. The Rebels only pushed one across in the inning as Ketchie stranded runners on first and third.
Ketchie worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning before being pulled in the seventh. He struck out five hitters over two innings. Davian Garcia (Florida Gulf Coast) took the mound in the seventh and managed to get out of the inning despite putting two runners on.
The Tom Sox took a commanding 5-1 lead into the ninth, and they added to it after Edwards hit a leadoff dinger to straightaway center. The ‘Sox tacked on another insurance run from an RBI single by Fink.
The Virginia connection paired up for Charlottesville’s eighth run of the night as Henry Ford (Virginia) laced a sac fly into center, which scored Teel.
Garcia worked a scoreless ninth inning, and the ‘Sox captured an 8-1 victory.
The Tom Sox return to CHO Airport Field on Saturday for a matchup against the Strasburg Express, with the first pitch slated for 7 P.M.
Additional Notes
-
The Tom Sox split the season series against New Market, with each team winning twice.
-
Martinez’s two doubles mark the fifth time a Tom Sox player has hit a pair in a game this season.
