ASHLAND, Va. – The Yellow Jackets handed the Maroons their first back-to-back losses of the season, including their first two conference losses, coming via the mercy rule and a comeback victory.
The Basics
Score: (RV) Randolph-Macon 12, #23 Roanoke 2; (RV) Randolph-Macon 5, #23 Roanoke 3
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park // Randolph-Macon College
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (9-4, 4-2 ODAC), #23 Roanoke (12-4, 2-2 ODAC)
How It Happened in Game 1:
- The Maroons drove two singles up the middle to get two baserunners on in the top of the second, before a double down the left field line gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.
- Zach Stolze (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) ripped a single towards the pitcher in the bottom of the second, before James Baffone (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) and Justin Lanouette (Chantilly, Va./Freedom) laced back-to-back singles to opposite sides of the field to load the bases for RMC. Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) seized the opportunity, as the left-fielder drove a double to the right-center gap for 2 RBI and a 2-2 game. Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) continued to build the momentum, as he singled to left to drive Lanouette home, giving his team a 3-2 lead.
- Stolze came up to the plate with one out and nuked a shot over the left field fence for a solo home run, pushing the Yellow Jackets ahead 4-2 in the bottom of the third. Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) followed suit with a triple of the right field wall, before Logan Duff (Forest, Va./Liberty Christian) put a single up the middle, extending RMC's lead to 5-2.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Schmitt rifled a ball over the right field fence as the first batter of the inning, increasing the cushion to 6-2.
- Both Quici and Duff were hit by pitches as consecutive batters to put runners on first and second for the Lemon and Black. Baffone followed with a walk to load the bases for Randolph-Macon in the bottom of the fifth. Lanouette was then also hit by a pitch to give him his first career RBI and to give his team a 7-2 advantage.
- Stolze barreled a triple to right in the bottom of the sixth to put a man on third with one out. Quici drove a fly ball to right field in the following at-bat, registering a sacrifice fly that pushed Stolze across the plate for an 8-2 lead. The Jackets loaded the bases with two outs, thanks to a single from Duff, walk from Baffone and Lanouette being hit by a pitch. Bowles came up to the plate and knocked two runs in after singling to right, pushing the lead even further to 10-2.
- After the seventh inning stretch, Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill), Elias Brooks (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) and Stolze all drew walks to put all runners on with no outs. Quici gave the Yellow Jackets a 11-2 run after hitting yet another single to right field. Baffone was able to enforce RMC's first mercy rule of the season, as his walk pushed Brooks across the plate, icing a 12-2 win.
By The Numbers in Game 1:
- RMC finished with its second-highest hit total of the season, totaling 14 compared to five from RC.
- Randolph-Macon racked up 12 RBI in the contest, while Roanoke only had two.
- The Yellow Jackets tallied seven walks against the Maroons, while they only drew one.
- The home team finished the seven innings of play with no errors.
- Carter Schuma (Midlothian, Va./Trinity Episcopal) gave up only five hits, one walk and two runs in his seven innings of work. The defending ODAC Pitcher of the Week dealt only 51 pitches in his seven-inning span, marking the most effective run of his career.
- Stolze compiled three hits, three runs, an RBI and a walk in his four plate appearances, as his three hits tied Bowles for a game-high.
- Stolze was just a double shy of the cycle, as he registered a single, as well as the first home run and triple of his RMC career to headline the Jackets.
- Bowles finished with a game-high 4 RBI and three hits in his five plate appearances.
- Schmitt joined Quici with two RBI, as Schmitt also had two hits and a run. Within his two hits was his first home run of the season.
- Duff also had two singles in the game, with a run and an RBI.
- Lanouette tallied his first-career hit and an RBI in two plate appearances.
How It Happened in Game 2:
- The Maroons got the scoring started in the top of the third, as a leadoff single ended up becoming a run, after the number two batter doubled to right center. With a man on third, Roanoke jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, after a home run over the left field fence continued the scoring.
- Randolph-Macon got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as a result of a single to left from Baffone. The shortstop was able to steal second before a sacrifice fly from Schmitt pushed RMC's first run of the game across the plate.
- In the bottom of the sixth, Wernoski dropped a single into right field before a double down the left field line from Stolze gave RMC runners on second and third. Jacob Hauk (Ellicott City, Md./Loyola Blakefield) did his job, as he drilled a deep sacrifice fly to center to close the gap to 2-3. With Stolze scoring, the Yellow Jackets were then able to tie it up, as a ground ball from Quici allowed Stolze to scamper home.
- The Lemon and Black continued its steady pressure, as both Baffone and Lanouette drew walks to begin the bottom of the seventh. Then, thanks to an error, a ground ball from Schmitt loaded the bases. Wernoski turned in a two-RBI single to left, driving in Lanouette and Baffone, to give Randolph-Macon its first lead of the game, 5-3.
By The Numbers in Game 2:
- Much like in game one, Randolph-Macon totaled zero errors.
- The Yellow Jackets registered one more RBI than the Maroons, 4-3, in less plate appearances (26-to-33).
- RMC players were only caught striking out six times, while Roanoke fanned 14 times.
- Peter Phillips (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) gave up three hits while striking out three batters in his 15 that he faced over a span of four innings.
- William Wian (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) compiled a career-high 11 strikeouts in the contest while pitching five innings. The senior only let up four hits and one walk across his 71 pitches.
- Wernoski was one of two players in the game to get two hits, as he also turned in two RBI and a run.
- Bowles joined his second basemen with two hits, as the outfielder also had a walk.
- Hauk and Schmitt each ripped an RBI, as it was Baffone leading the team with two runs.
- After hitting a double in game two, Stolze finished with four hits across the two games. In game two, he added a hit and a walk to help RMC mount the comeback.
Up Next
The Lemon and Black travel to Virginia Beach, Va., to take on Virginia Wesleyan at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18.
