ASHLAND, Va. – Senior
Aidan Pinto (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) had a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, and after junior
Elias Brooks (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) tied the game with a two-run single, delivered the game-winning hit as the Randolph-Macon baseball team nipped Mary Washington 7-6 on Thursday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: Randolph-Macon 7, Mary Washington 6
Venue: Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park
Records: RMC 22-12, UMW 23-12
How It Happened:
- The Eagles plated a run in the top of the first before the Yellow Jackets answered in the fourth. Sophomore James Baffone (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) had a one-out double, moved to third on a base hit by Pinto and scored when sophomore Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) reached on an error to level the score at 1-1.
- UMW scored three unearned runs in the sixth and added two in the seventh before RMC started its comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Bowles reached on an infield single, went to second on an error, moved to third on a single by sophomore Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) and came home on a base hit by junior Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) to make it 6-2.
- The Eagles stranded a pair in the top of the eighth before the Yellow Jackets continued to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the frame. Brooks led off the inning with a pinch-hit single. One out later, Pinto launched a homer to left as RMC pulled to within two at 6-4.
- Wernoski drew a walk to start the bottom of the ninth, but was picked off for the first out. Schmitt walked and went to second on a single to right by senior Aaron Lautenschlager (Purcellville, Va./Loudon Valley). Junior Logan Duff (Forest, Va./Liberty Christian) walked to load the bases. Brooks hit the first pitch he saw to knock in Schmitt and Lautenschlager, tying the game at 6-6. Senior pinch-hitter Cole Mallory (Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry) was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Against a drawn-in infield, Pinto singled up the middle to plate Duff with the game-winner.
By The Numbers
- RMC has won eight of its past nine games.
- RMC is 2-1 against UMW this season.
- The Yellow Jackets had 13 hits, drew six walks and had two hitters plunked.
- Pinto went 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBI.
- Brooks was 2 for 2 off the bench with a run and two RBI.
- Lautenschlager had two hits and scored once.
- Wernoski reached three times with one hit and two walks.
- Senior Sam Slevin (Virginia Beach, Va./Frank Cox) earned the win, going the final 2.1 scoreless innings with three hits, no walks and three strikeouts.
- Junior Colin Casey (Herndon, Va./South Lakes) turned in a solid start with 3.1 innings, three hits, one run and a season-high six strikeouts.
Up Next
RMC will play at ODAC doubleheader at Guilford on Saturday, April 26, at noon.
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