CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — After a grueling pitchers’ duel, the Harrisonburg Turks (18-9) bested the Charlottesville Tom Sox (20-9) in extra innings at Charlottesville High School on Thursday evening. The visitors posted two runs in the top of the tenth to break the tie and take a 3-1 victory on ‘Virginia Athletics Night’ at the ballpark.
David Davilla got the start for Harrisonburg and James Hays (Georgia) kicked things off for Charlottesville. Both starters posted strong outings, hanging zeroes on the scoreboard in the first inning.
The Tom Sox struck first in the top of the second as Dean Mihos (Coastal Carolina) walked and stole second. The speedy outfielder then raced around the bases to score on a two-out RBI single by Cale Stricklin (Auburn). At the end of two, C’Ville led 1-0.
Hays was terrific throughout his start for the Tom Sox. The Hawkinsville, Georgia, native posted six scoreless innings of work and surrendered just three hits and four walks while striking out two Turks.
The righty passed the baton to Will Pearson (Georgia) who piloted the Tom Sox through the seventh. The Turks did tag a run on the board in the frame to even the score, plating one on a sacrifice fly. At the end of seven, the score was knotted up at 1-1.
In the top of the eighth, after tying things up in the previous frame, the Turks tried to strike while the iron was hot. After three Charlottesville errors loaded the bases for the Turks, Head Coach Randy Tomlin went to his bullpen once again, this time in favor of Daniel Powell (Kennesaw State).
Pearson’s evening ended after allowing one unearned run in one inning pitched with no hits and no walks.
Powell came in with no outs and the bases juiced, but the righty didn’t allow a runner to cross home as he induced a 3-2 groundout before fanning consecutive Turks to masterfully escape the jam. After returning for the ninth and tenth innings, his final line closed at three innings pitched with four strikeouts and two runs given up on two hits.
Both sides threatened in the ninth but couldn’t break the tie, sending the ‘Sox to extras for the fourth time this season.
In the top of the tenth, the Turks posted two runs after driving home the inherited ‘ghost’ runner on a go-ahead RBI single and tallying another on an RBI double.
With Charlottesville down to its final three outs, Harrisonburg quickly retired the side in the bottom of the tenth to tie a bow on their 3-1 win and move within one game of the ‘Sox in the South Division standings.
UP NEXT:
The Charlottesville Tom Sox travel to Culpeper on Friday night for a date with the Cavaliers. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. at Culpeper County High School.
