CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Derek Williams hit a 3-run home run to provide all the needed offense as the Charlottesville Tom Sox (10-7) snapped their two-game losing streak, capturing a 3-2 victory over the Staunton Braves (6-13) on Thursday night.
‘Sox starter Mark Perkins (Rice) started the game with two scoreless frames before the Braves jumped out to an early lead in the third.
With two outs in the inning, Evan Profy laced a double into left field. The next batter was Joey Parliment, who reached on an infield single, but disaster struck on the play as Perkins fired the ball down the first base line, allowing Profy to score. Staunton’s bats continued to stay hot, with Cooper Clapp notching an RBI single into center field, making the score 2-0.
Perkins bounced back after allowing the two unearned runs in the third and finished the game tossing 4.1 innings, striking out five. ‘Sox skipper Lyndon Coleman brought in Ryan Lynch (Notre Dame), and he dominated the Braves lineup. Lynch fired 2.2 shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.
The Braves went to their bullpen for the second time in the sixth as Crew Egan came into the contest. Egan allowed walks against Sergio Rivera (Florida Southwestern) and Brice Martinez (Wofford) and was pulled after. Joe Martino relieved Egan of his duties and was welcomed to the game by Rivera and Martinez stealing second and third, respectively.
With just one out in the inning and two runners in scoring position, it appeared Charlottesville was going to cut into the two-run deficit, but Martino managed to work out of the jam by getting Henry Ford (Virginia) to strike out and Hollis Porter (Mississippi State) to fly out. Martino’s success in the sixth would not continue into the next frame, however.
Charlottesville’s bats came alive in the seventh as Aidan Teel led off the inning with a single. He was thrown out on a fielder’s choice by Alex Bouche (Old Dominion), who advanced to second on an error.
The Braves defenders continued to plague Martino on the mound. Connor Hincks (Notre Dame) skied a ball into center field, but it dropped in front of Profy, who couldn’t see the ball in the thick wildfire haze. Hincks raced into second, and Bouche ended up on third with just one out in the inning.
With Kalvin Alexander (Georgia Southwestern) due up, head coach Lyndon Coleman called upon Derek Williams (Florida Southwestern) to pinch hit. The decision to bring in Williams paid off massively as he crushed a three-run shot to deep left field, giving Charlottesville a 3-2 lead.
The ‘Sox had newfound momentum after Williams’s dinger, and they brought in Mike Eggert (Wofford) to close the game out. Eggert continued his scoreless innings streak on Thursday night, firing two shutout, and he picked up his second save on the season.
The ‘Sox are back at CHO Airport Field on Friday night as they take on the Front Royal Cardinals, with the first pitch slated for 7:00 p.m. It will be First Responders Night at the ballpark.
Additional Notes
-
Each of the Tom Sox’s last five games has been decided by three or fewer runs. They are 3-2 over that span.
-
Williams hit the first pinch-hit home run for the ‘Sox since UTRGV’s RJ Ochoa hit one at Staunton in July 2021.
-
Charlottesville’s bullpen held their opponent scoreless for the third straight home game.
-
The Tom Sox collected their first win since June 18 and first home win since the 15th.
-
Charlottesville’s 4 hits are tied for their fewest since the season opener.
