CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va – The four-game winning streak for the Charlottesville Tom Sox (5-3) is no more. The Tom Sox welcomed in the first-place Purcellville Cannons (7-1) Saturday night, and the Cannons lived up to their place in the standings – defeating the Tom Sox, 8-2.
Sam Massey (Charleston Southern) got the start for the Tom Sox, and had a phenomenal first inning, sending down the top three hitters for the Cannons in order. It didn’t take long for the Cannons offense to heat up, though. Back-to-back doubles in the second for center fielder Mikey Brinton and first baseman MJ Rodriguez gave Purcellville an early 1-0 lead.
The Tom Sox quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, as center fielder David Wiley (Wofford) and right fielder Brady Gumpf (Notre Dame) reached base to begin the inning. A perfectly executed double-steal put Wiley and Gumpf into scoring position for left fielder Drew Jones (Ohio State). Jones drove in center fielder Wiley on an error by Purcellville’s shortstop, and Gumpf followed, scoring on that same error, making it 2-1.
The response in the second would be the only one of the game for the ‘Sox, as those two runs were all the offense could bring across to score.
An RBI single in the top of the third for left fielder Chayce Bryant gave Purcellville a 3-2 lead, a lead it would not lose the rest of the way.
Hayden Smith (Kentucky) came in relief of Massey, who exited after four innings in which he gave up three earned runs on six hits, but Purcellville pounced on Smith.
Third baseman Dan Swirsky started the top of the fifth for the Cannons with an infield single, which was followed by a walk for shortstop Caleb Stewart. With runners at second and first, three straight hitters drove in runs. Designated hitter Ryne Guida drove home a run with a double down the right field line, right fielder Joseph Eichelberger added another with a groundout, and then Bryant drove in the sixth run of the game for the Cannons with a single.
With the four-run cushion, the Cannons pitching staff mowed through the Tom Sox lineup. The ‘Sox only had one hit in the first seven frames, a single for second baseman Josh Tate (Georgia) in the fourth.
Purcellville starting pitcher Daniel Quintana only allowed one earned run over four innings, and Jacob Smith was excellent in relief, throwing four shutout innings.
One of the lone bright spots for the Tom Sox was the return of Mike Eggert (Wofford), who made his first appearance of the season after pitching for the ‘Sox in 2022. Eggert threw two scoreless innings, retiring all six batters he faced.
Purcellville added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth off reliever Henry Hardie (Florida Southwestern) and sent Jaxon Delana out to the mound for the ninth to close the game.
The ‘Sox didn’t go down without a fight, as they loaded the bases with only one out. But the offensive struggles continued, as Gumpf struck out and catcher Kalvin Alexander (Georgia Southwestern) lined out to strand the bases loaded, giving the Cannons an 8-2 win.
The Tom Sox will travel to Front Royal to take on the Cardinals Sunday at 7 P.M. for the first matchup of the season between the two teams.
Additional Notes
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Mississippi State’s Hollis Porter continued his success over the last few games, going 0-for-1 but walking four times. He is the first Tom Sox player to walk four times in a game since Davidson’s Alex Fedje-Johnson did so in 2019, also against the Cannons but on the road.
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Charlottesville’s two stolen bases are the second fewest this season, trailed only by one in the season opener. They were caught stealing for the first time on the year, as Drew Jones was stopped in the second inning to make it 45-46 on steals.
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Purcellville won their first game in Charlottesville since July 20, 2016, and snapped an 8-game losing streak to the Tom Sox.
