STAUNTON, Va. – Hot off their seventh-straight win, the Tom Sox (17-11) laced up their shoes, packed their bags and headed west to face off against the Staunton Braves (10-20). In a game that featured tempers flaring on both ends, the Braves came out on top 8-4.
The game started off slow, with both teams remaining scoreless in the first three innings. The ‘Sox closed out the bottom of the third inning with a double play instigated by shortstop Kyle Edwards (Old Dominion), allowing only three Braves to step up to the plate.
Cole Wagner kicked off the 4th for the ‘Sox with a single and made his way around the bases for the first run of the game, scoring on an Edwards sac fly to take a 1-0 lead at the halfway mark. However, the ‘Sox were not the only team to see action. The Braves had an active fourth inning, scoring five runs to Charlottesville’s one.
After a solid first three innings, Charlottesville starter Fisher Jameson (Florida) struggled, allowing six-straight baserunners to reach following a leadoff strikeout before he was pulled. Jameson finished the day with five hits allowed, five runs (three earned), three walks, and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings. He was relieved by Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman (East Carolina), who allowed two-straight baserunners to begin his outing but settled down after.
Refusing to go down without a fight, the ‘Sox fired back with an RBI double from Satchell Norman (Florida Southwestern) in the top of the 5th, scoring Brody Moss (Auburn) from second.
Lunsford-Shenkman showed his dominance in the fifth, firing the second 1-2-3 frame of the day for Charlottesville. He found his way out of a jam in the sixth thanks to some helpful defense, as Edwards turned his second double play of the game following back-to-back walks to lead off the inning.
Norman led off the seventh for Charlottesville, who were desperate to get something going. He walked and made his way around the bases, scoring on a Carter Cunningham (East Carolina) single to make it 5-3. A Cole Wagner single, Edwards walk, and Luke Wagner HBP brought in one more run to make it 5-4, but that’s all Charlottesville could muster despite loading the bases for the second-straight inning.
The ‘Sox were not able to secure the comeback, giving up three runs in the bottom of the 8th to end the game with an 8-4 final score and snap their 7-game win streak. A 2-run triple off of Tom Sox reliever Drew Bryan (Chicago) followed by an RBI single by ‘Sox killer Joe Delossantos were what the Braves needed to put Charlottesville to bed and tie the season series at 3-3.
The ‘Sox look to get one back against the same Braves on Wednesday (July 14) at Charlottesville High School. It is Virginia Sports Night at the ballpark, and free admission is sponsored by Carter Bank & Trust.
Additional Notes
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Tom Sox Head Coach Ramon Garza and Garrett Spikes were ejected in the bottom of the sixth inning after a dispute with home plate umpire Nathan Hamlett.
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The Tom Sox left 11 runners on base, the second-most in a game this season.
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Cole Wagner extended his on-base streak to 20 games. He is now tied with Bryce Windham (2017) for the sixth-longest on-base streak in Tom Sox history.
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Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman recorded his third-straight scoreless appearance in the game. Drew Bryan, on the other hand, allowed a run for the first time in over a month (June 9) and the first time this season out of the bullpen.
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Brody Moss walked twice for the second-straight game and has walked in eight straight games. Carter Cunningham knocked in a run for the fourth-straight game and is currently on an 8-game hit streak.
