ASHLAND, Va. – Despite an early 5-4 lead, the Lemon and Black were unable to hang on to the advantage, as a late effort from the United States Coast Guard Academy gave the visitors a 10-7 win.
The Basics
Score: United States Coast Guard Academy 10, (RV) Randolph-Macon 7
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park // Randolph-Macon College
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (7-4, 2-2 ODAC), U.S. Coast Guard (2-2, 0-0 NEWMAC)
How It Happened:
- In the top of the first, Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) drew a walk to give Randolph-Macon its first baserunner with one out. Zach Stolze (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) followed with a walk of his own, before Brian Fleming (Rehoboth, Del./Cape Henlopen) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) wasted no time giving the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead, after a single up the middle drove Wernoski and Stolze in.
- The Bears responded in the top of the second, as they got a runner on first with two outs before an error resulted in their first run of the game. With a runner on first, a double against the left field fence drove the visitors' second run of the game across the plate, tying the contest at two. USCGA continued to tack on runs, as a home run down the right field line put the Bears ahead, 4-2.
- Maddox Bullock (Roanoke Rapids, N.C./Roanoke Rapids) earned a walk in the bottom of the second, before a sacrifice bunt from Jordan Hill (Norfolk, Va./Granby) moved him to second. Once Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) was hit by the first pitch he saw, Wernsoki laced a double over the center fielder's head, pushing Bullock across the plate to cut the deficit to 3-4. With Bowles on third and Wernoski on second, Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) drew a walk on a wild pitch. Thanks to some heads-up baserunning from Bowles, RMC tied the contest, 4-4, after the junior scampered home. On the first pitch that Stolze saw, he barreled a sacrifice fly to left, allowing Wernoski to tag up to push the Yellow Jackets back ahead, 5-4.
- After five innings of scoreless baseball, a fielder's choice and walk gave USCGA runners on first and second with just one out. A single into the right-center gap then drove the tying run in for the Bears, knotting the contest at five in the top of the eighth. The following batter walked to load the bases for the visitors, leading to a pinch-hit two-run single to right, giving the Bears a 7-5 advantage. On the following two pitches, USCGA registered back-to-back singles, generating a quick 9-5 lead. While Randolph-Macon got the second and third outs of the eighth, a sacrifice fly drove in the visitors' 10th run of the contest.
- Quici came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth and rifled a double down the right field line, putting himself in scoring position. Logan Duff (Forest, Va./Liberty Christian) filled the vacant first base with a walk before Bullock forced an error from the shortstop, permitting Quici to close the gap to 6-10.
- In the Yellow Jackets' last bid, Wernoski drove a single to right before Schmitt got a base on balls, creating runners on first and second with no outs. Stolze worked his count full and then flew a deep out to right, allowing Wernoski to tag up to third. He was then able to score to get his team within three, down 7-10, after Fleming ripped a single up the middle.
By The Numbers:
- Randolph-Macon only left 10 runners on base, while the United States Coast Guard Academy left 14.
- RMC also finished with less strikeouts, only totaling three as USCGA had four.
- With eight hits, the Yellow Jackets have now tallied eight-or-more hits in 10 of their 11 games, including all seven of their home contests.
- Quici led RMC with three hits, as he also racked up an RBI and a run in his five plate appearances.
- He now has two games this season with three-or-more hits, as he has also reached 10 RBI on the season.
- Wernoski was the only other Yellow Jacket to have a multi-hit game, as he turned in two hits and a game-high three runs, while drawing one walk.
- The second baseman now has back-to-back multi-hit games, as well as a hit in seven of his last eight games.
- Schmitt, Fleming and Duff had the remaining three hits for the Lemon and Black, as Fleming also had an RBI.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon travels to Rocky Mount, N.C. to take on North Carolina Wesleyan University on Thursday, March 12 at 3:00 p.m.
