Box Score ASHLAND, VA – Randolph-Macon Baseball erupted for a six run sixth inning on the way to an 11-5 victory over No. 17 Christopher Newport Wednesday afternoon. With the win, R-MC completes the season sweep of CNU and improves to 17-13-1 overall.
The Captains struck in the top of the second when Kyle Corwin hit a solo homerun over the wall in left. CNU added two more in the third when Preston Grissom and Bill Steel drove in runs with doubles.
Randolph-Macon loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth for Travis Lodge who belted a double into the left center gap. Matt Fischgrund and Tim Benjamin crossed the plate on the hit and Michael Trentham also came home on a throwing error at the end of the play.
The Yellow Jackets took advantage of two Captains' errors to start the sixth inning before Lodge reached based on a sacrifice attempt. This set up Nate Meiners to draw a bases loaded walk and Zach Broaddus followed with a two run double to score Trentham and Lodge. Two batters later Jake Fletcher drove in a pair of runs with a double of his own. Benjamin capped the six run inning with a single to right, scoring Fletcher to put R-MC on top 9-3.
Christopher Newport rallied for a run in each of the final innings but a two run Randolph-Macon outburst in the eighth sealed the 11-5 upset victory.
Benjamin paced the Yellow Jackets at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance. The sophomore catcher also had a double and two RBI. Keeler added a double, a single and drove in a pair of runs while Lodge went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Daniel Byrd allowed just three earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts over a five inning start. Sid Harvey pitched a perfect sixth inning to pick up his second win of the season. Austin Bain tossed a scoreless inning of relief while Glenn McLaughlin tossed the final two innings and allowed one earned run and fanned three.
USA South Pitcher of the Year Austin Chrismon is saddled with the loss after allowing nine runs (three earned) on seven hits while fanning five.
Grissom led CNU at the dish going a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
The Yellow Jackets travel to Guilford for their final ODAC matchup of the regular season on Saturday, April 20th. First pitch is slated for 1:00.
