ASHLAND, Va. – The Yellow Jackets generated a 3-1 lead through the first four innings of play, but were unable to hold onto the lead through the nine-inning contest.
The Basics
Score: York (Pa.) 14, (RV) Randolph-Macon 3
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park // Randolph-Macon College
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (11-7, 5-3 ODAC), York College of Pennsylvania (10-8, 4-2 MACC)
How It Happened:
- Freshman pitcher Ryan Hummel (Virginia Beach, Va./Cape Henry Collegiate) opened the contest with six strikeouts in his first six batters faced.
- In the top of the third, the Spartans broke their hitless streak with a solo home run over the right field fence, creating a 1-0 lead.
- The Yellow Jackets responded immediately, as Jacob Hauk (Ellicott City, Md./Loyola Blakefield) got on base after being hit by a pitch. James Baffone (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) came up next and launched a ball over the left field fence, driving Hauk in for a 2-1 lead. Still with no outs, CJ Chatterton, (Rockville, Md./Georgetown Prep) ripped a double down the right field line to get in scoring position. Once Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt, he was able to increase the RMC lead to 3-1 after a sacrifice fly from Maddox Bullock (Roanoke Rapids, N.C./Roanoke Rapids).
- With one out in the top of the fifth, the Spartans got runners on second and third after two singles started the inning. Then, a double down the left field line allowed both baserunners to get home, knotting the contest 3-3. Once another single put runners on the corners, a sacrifice fly to right gave the visitors a 4-3 advantage. York was able to extend its lead to 7-3, after a single and a double back-to-back drove three runs across the plate.
- In the top of the eighth, the Spartans got a run on the board as a result of two singles and a steal, making the score 8-3. Despite hitting into a double play, the visitors got their second run of the frame as a runner was able to get home. Once another single made the score 10-3, a home run to left saw York take a 12-3 lead.
- Once a double to deep center field put a runner in scoring position, a wild pitch and sacrifice fly generated another run for York, increasing the cushion to 13-3. The Spartans brought a pinch hitter in to force another single up the middle, making the count 14-3.
By The Numbers:
- York left nine batters on base, while Randolph-Macon limited itself to seven.
- The Yellow Jackets only struck out seven times, while the Spartans had 11 batters fan.
- The total hit count saw York hold a 15-to-nine advantage, as it led RMC 13-to-three in RBI.
- Baffone led the team with two hits, as he also paced the squad with two RBI. This is the junior's first multi-hit game of the season, which included the first home run of his career.
- Bullock joined Baffone as the other Yellow Jacket to record an RBI. Bullock now has three hits in his past two games and an RBI in each of his last three games played.
- Caleb Hawton-Henley (Fairfax, Va./St. Johns Prep) and Chatterton each had doubles to join Baffone as the RMC players with extra base hits.
- Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) registered one stolen base to lead the Lemon and Black.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets host a doubleheader against Eastern Mennonite on Saturday, March 28 at noon in Ashland, Va.
