STAUNTON, Va. — After a nine-run loss to Harrisonburg, the Charlottesville Tom Sox (7-3) traveled to Staunton for their 10th game of the year seeking to get back on the right track. Isaac Fix (Davidson) held the Braves (5-6) to no runs and two hits through five innings, resulting in a 4-1 victory for the ‘Sox.
Ethan Gibson (Virginia Tech) laid down a beauty of a bunt down the third base line that allowed him to get on base; however, Zachary Horn pitched his way out of it with three strikeouts. Head coach Randy Tomlin handed Fix the start on the mound where he flew through the first inning, sending the Braves down in order.
“It starts on the mound and Fix pitched really well,” Tomlin said. “That’s the main thing, you have to throw strikes, play good defense and give your offense a chance to score.”
The top of the second was an explosive one for Charlottesville, circling the diamond three times for three runs. With two runners on board, Cale Stricklin (Auburn) sent a ball whistling into right-center field to bring the first run home.
A Sam Mummau (Florida) double and Johnnie Lopez (Seminole State) sac-fly engraved two more runs into the scoreboard, making it a 3-0 ballgame.
Fix faced his first test at the bottom of the second frame as the home team looked to cut into his team’s lead. Down in the count with runners in the corners, the rising senior relied on the help of his infield to get the final out in the books.
“I just had to execute pitches and let my fielders work,” Fix said. “They made some plays behind me and it worked out.”
The ‘Sox added another hit to the night in the third after James Taussig (UTSA) ripped one off the 360-yard sign in center field. The Braves got out of the inning without any damage, though, and Charlottesville maintained their three-run advantage.
Both pitchers carried the momentum into the following two innings as Fix recorded back-to-back 1-2-3 innings and three more strikeouts to his name. Meanwhile, Connor Henk silenced the Tom Sox offense to no runs and one hit.
Charlottesville got their fourth and final run in the top of the sixth. After loading the bases, a wild pitch from Pierce Glading allowed Sam Mummau to run home. However, Charlottesville left the bases loaded and gave Staunton a chance to respond.
They could not capitalize, though. Nick Sulpizio (Old Dominion) and Daniel Powell (Kennesaw State) split the final four innings, with Sulpizio allowing a single run in the sixth inning but limiting Staunton otherwise. The Braves threatened a ninth inning comeback, but a solo double play by Gibson put the game to rest.
“The last time we were here, I didn’t have my best outing so it was good to go back out there and kind of get a little revenge,” Fix said. “The Tom Sox are hot.”
UP NEXT:
The Tom Sox improve to 7-3, first in the South Division, and will face Culpeper for Book Night on Friday at 7 p.m. at Charlottesville High School.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Fix is the first Tom Sox starter to throw five innings in an outing this summer.
- Charlottesville has scored first in nine of its 10 games.
- The Tom Sox struck out a season-high 15 times.
- The three-run win is Charlottesville’s smallest margin of victory this season.
