CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After coming off the first win of the season, the Tom Sox extended their success in Charlottesville against the Waynesboro Generals on Sunday. Starter James Hays struck out four and a pair of ‘Sox hitters hit home runs as the ‘Sox 2-hit the Generals in a game ended by run rule, 16-1.
The Tom Sox made a statement early with a 5-run bottom of the first. Following a three-up, three-down top half by Georgia’s James Hays, Charlottesville instantly took the lead on a leadoff home run by Johnnie Lopez (Seminole State). A hard-hit grounder to left by Robbie Lavey (George Washington) singled home another; then, with the bases loaded following a single and a walk, Cale Stricklin (Auburn) scored them all with a hard-hit double to left.
Following back-to-back scoreless innings in the second, the Charlottesville offense went back to work in the third. A leadoff walk and hit-by-pitch knocked out Waynesboro’s starter, Nick Berryman, from the game. In the first at-bat off of bullpen arm Jake Simpson, Ethan Gibson (Virginia Tech) scored a pair on a hard-hit double to deep center. The parade kept coming, as a bases loaded hit-by-pitch scored another and made it 8-0 Charlottesville, forcing the second pitching change of the inning.
The hits just kept coming, though. On the first pitch by Luke Richards, Tommy Roldan (Virginia) hit another fly ball to right-center which scored a pair. A Cade Belyeu (Auburn) sacrifice fly drove in one more to give Charlottesville an 11-0 advantage after three.
Hays, Charlottesville’s starting pitcher, went through four innings with an equal amount of strikeouts, leaving the Generals scoreless through the first half of the game as they struggled to get on base.
Nick Sulpizio (Old Dominion) took over for Hays in the fifth and was equally efficient. Despite allowing the game’s first hit – an infield single by 5-hole hitter Matthew Dieguez – he was able to get out unscathed and keep the goose-egg on the board for Waynesboro.
Waynesboro finally got on the board in the top of the sixth, but for less than they had hoped. With the bases loaded following a double and a pair of walks from Garrett Mason (Virginia Tech), Elijah Borjas hit a sacrifice fly to center and brought home lead runner Garrett Quinn. Despite Mason’s struggles, Charlottesville was able to get out of the inning safely as Daniel Powell (Kennesaw St), who relieved Mason, induced a groundout from the first batter he faced.
Charlottesville all but ensured that the game would end via ten-run rule in the bottom half. A single and a pair of hit-by-pitches loaded the bases for the fourth time in six innings. A walk and sacrifice fly brought in the first two runs before Lavey called game with a three-run home run, which boosted the ‘Sox to 16 runs on the day.
Charlottesville will seek their first road win as they take on Harrisonburg on Tuesday, following a day off to start the week. First pitch at Veterans Memorial Park is set for 7:30 P.M.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- The Tom Sox have hit 45% of the Valley League’s home runs this season.
- Charlottesville has five home runs through three games this season, a new team record.
- Prior to this season, Charlottesville had not hit a home run in each of their first three games.
- Four Tom Sox players have reached base in at least half of their plate appearances through the first four games – Lavey (9/15), Lopez (8/14), Stricklin (8/13), and Gibson (8/16).
- Charlottesville went 7-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 2-for-3 with the bases loaded. Waynesboro only had one runner in scoring position the entire game.
