TYSONS, Va. – The second-seeded Randolph-Macon baseball team scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to edge fourth-seeded Shenandoah 3-1 on Friday evening to advance to the ODAC Championship Game against top-seeded and fourth-ranked Lynchburg.
The Basics
Game 2
Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Shenandoah 1
Venue: Capital One Park
Records: RMC 29-14, SU 28-17
How It Happened
- The Hornets scored their run in the top of the first. The Yellow Jackets would get the equalizer in the sixth. Senior Aidan Pinto (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) laced a one-out double to right center and came home on a single by sophomore Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) to level the score at 1-1.
- Sophomore Peter Phillips (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) pitched the first seven innings for RMC, allowing three hits and one run with one walk and a season-high 10 strikeouts.
- Senior Michael Shanahan (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) pitched a scoreless top of the eighth before the Yellow Jackets took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Junior Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) had a leadoff single and went to second on a base hit by senior Chaz Harvey (Charlottesville, Va./Miller School). Pinto laid down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away at first, allowing Schmitt to score from second, giving RMC a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) was intentionally walked to load the bases. Sophomore James Baffone (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) walked to plate Pinto, making it 3-1.
- SU loaded the bases with one away in the bottom of the ninth before senior Sam Slevin (Virginia Beach, Va./Frank Cox) took over on the mound. He forced a popout and a fielder's choice to secure the victory.
By The Numbers
- Shanahan (6-2) picked up the win after being the losing pitcher in the first game.
- Slevin recorded his fifth save of the season and the 16th of his career, the top mark in program history.
- Harvey had two hits, including a double.
- Pinto went 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs.
- Quici walked twice. He had an outstanding diving catch in right center in the seventh.
- Baffone went 1 for 2 with two walks and one RBI.
Game 1
Score: Lynchburg 5, Randolph-Macon 4
Venue: Capital One Park
Records: RMC 28-14, LYN 37-6
How It Happened
- The Hornets tallied a run in the bottom of the first before the Yellow Jackets answered in the second. Harvey had a leadoff single and went to second on a groundout by sophomore Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga). Pinto and junior Logan Duff (Forest, Va./Liberty Christian) drew walks to load the bases. Baffone hit a bouncer back to the pitcher, who threw home to force out Harvey. The errant relay throw to first allowed Pinto and Duff to score, giving RMC a 2-1 edge.
- The Yellow Jackets had a two-out rally in the sixth. Pinto reached on an error, went to second on an infield single by Duff and advanced to third on a base hit off the pitcher by Baffone. Freshman CJ Chatterton (Rockville, Md./Georgetown Prep) drew a walk to bring home Pinto. Sophomore Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) had an infield single that brought in Duff to make it 4-1.
- Lynchburg scored three in the bottom of the sixth, two of which were unearned, and notched the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for a 5-4 victory.
By The Numbers
- Harvey had two hits, including a double.
- Pinto and Duff both had one hit, one walk and two runs.
- Bowles had one hit, one walk and one RBI.
- Chatterton walked three times and knocked in a run.
Up Next
RMC will face top-seeded Lynchburg on Saturday, May 10 at 1 p.m. at Capital One Park in Tysons, Va., for the ODAC Championship. The Yellow Jackets will have to beat the Hornets twice to claim the title.
Â
