WAYNESBORO, Va. — The Charlottesville Tom Sox (6-5) squared off against the Waynesboro Generals (4-7) for the second time this campaign. Waynesboro defeated Charlottesville 3-2 in the season’s first game, but the result was different on Wednesday, as Charlottesville snapped their 3-game losing streak with a much-needed 8-4 victory.
The Generals wasted no time igniting the home crowd with a leadoff triple by Jason Brown. Brown came across to score two batters later after Luis Ramirez hit a sac fly to left field. However, Waynesboro’s lead didn’t last long.
Alex Bouche (Old Dominion) was drilled to begin the second inning. Chaos quickly ensued after he took off for second as catcher Parker Stroh airmailed the second baseman, throwing the ball into center field. Bouche advanced to third on Stroh’s error, setting him up to score on any hit. Brice Martinez (Wofford) did just that, reaching on an error by shortstop Julian Uejima to score Bouche and pull the game even at one apiece.
After a fielder’s choice by Sergio Rivera (Florida Southwestern), Charlottesville returned to its aggressive manner on the base path, with Rivera swiping second and third. Rivera concluded his trip on the bases by stealing home after Stroh threw down to second to try to gun down Kalvin Alexander (Georgia Southwestern), but his throw was late. The ‘Sox took a 1-run advantage into an action-packed third inning.
Connor Hincks (Notre Dame) and Derek Williams (Florida Southwestern) reached base to open up the inning, putting two in prime position with nobody out. Two batters later, Bouche walked to load the bases for Martinez, who continued his hot night with an RBI single, advancing the lead to 3-1. They then added to their lead, as Rivera reached on an error by the third baseman Ramirez, which allowed Williams to score. The rally continued as the Sox tacked on one more after Alexander bounced into a fielder’s choice, scoring Bouche.
With a four-run lead, Logan Forsythe (Mississippi State) looked to keep the Generals hitters at bay, but they had other ideas. Ramirez notched his second RBI of the contest as he ripped a single to score Max Smyly. After he reached, the bases were loaded for Sean Shelly, who cut into the deficit by drawing a walk.
That marked the end of the day for Forsythe, as head coach Lyndon Coleman called upon Ryan Lynch (Notre Dame). Waynesboro made it a 5-4 game after Ramirez came home after a wild pitch from Lynch.
After a scoreless fourth, Martinez laid down a perfectly placed bunt for a single. He came around to score as Rivera reached base after an error by Uejima.
The score remained 6-4 until the top of the seventh as the ‘Sox bats came alive against ‘Gens relievers Dylan Morrill and Luke Richards. Hollis Porter led off the inning with a single, then walks by three of the next four batters allowed Hollis Porter (Mississippi State) to walk home and pad the lead. The rally continued with Richards firing a ball to the backstop, allowing Bouche to easily score.
Coleman went to his bullpen in the bottom of the seventh, ending the night for Lynch. The lefty dominated in his 3.2 innings of relief, surrendering just two hits and striking out six. Grant Comstock (Northwestern) came on to pitch in the seventh inning, making his Charlottesville debut, and he worked a 1-2-3 inning.
The ‘Sox failed to scratch across a run in the top of the eighth, and Landen Burch (Old Dominion) came in to pitch the bottom of the inning. Burch worked two scoreless innings to close out the 8-4 victory, Charlottesville’s sixth straight at Kate Collins Field.
Charlottesville is back in action on Thursday night as it faces the Harrisonburg Turks for the third time at 7 P.M.
Additional Notes
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Sergio Rivera led the ‘Sox reaching base four times on the night, even while going 0-for-4 – a fielder’s choice, two errors, and a walk allowed him to tally two RBI on the night.
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After seven Generals reached over the first three innings, only five reached over the final six frames.
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Charlottesville’s bullpen did not allow a Generals run, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings and allowing only three hits and one walk, striking out nine.
