ASHLAND, Va. – After trailing by seven runs in the sixth inning, Randolph-Macon put 12 runs up in the final three innings, including a seven-run eighth inning, winning an incredible comeback in eight innings.
The Basics
Score: (RV) Randolph-Macon 17, #16 Christopher Newport 14
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park // Randolph-Macon College
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (14-7, 7-3 ODAC), #16 Christopher Newport (19-7, 0-0 C2C)
How It Happened:
- Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) started the bottom of the second with a leadoff walk. Right after, Michael Lavanga (Alexandira, Va./Bishop O'Connol) laced a double off the left field wall, putting runners on second and third with no outs. On a full count, James Baffone (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) drove both runners in with a single up the middle for a 2-0 lead. He was then advanced to second after a fielder's choice from Maddox Bullock (Roanoke Rapids, N.C./Roanoke Rapids). Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) went on to occupy first with a walk, leading to another walk for Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill), which loaded the bases. Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) then took advantage of the opportunity, as he drove a single up the middle to extend the lead to 3-0.
- In the top of the third, the Captains drew two walks with one out to get a runner in scoring position. Once a wild pitch put them on second and third, the bases were loaded as a result of another base on balls. A single from CNU drove two runs in, cutting the RMC lead to 3-2.
- On the first pitch Wernoski saw in the bottom of the fourth, he placed a double into the left-center gap. Once he was pushed to third on a sacrifice bunt from Schmitt, both Logan Duff (Forest, Va./Liberty Christian) and Jacob Hauk (Ellicott City, Md./Loyola Blakefield) drew walks to load the bases for RMC. Bowles jumped on the chance and dropped in a single to left, driving Wernoski and Duff home for a 5-2 advantage.
- Once a batter was walked in the top of the fifth, CNU moved him to third after a pair of wild pitches. The following batter hit a chopper down the third base line to drive the leadoff man in, closing the deficit to 3-5. The next two Captains drew walks, putting visitors on all three bags. The visitors used the momentum to turn in back-to-back two-RBI singles, taking a 7-5 lead. With a man on second, Christopher Newport used a pinch hitter to take a 9-5 cushion after a home run to right field.
- The first CNU batter in the top of the sixth homered over the left field fence for a 10-0 lead. With two outs, the Captians used two singles and some heads-up baserunning to put players on second and third. They were able to cash in on the opportunity, using a two-RBI single to earn a 12-5 cushion.
- In the bottom of the sixth, Schmitt dropped a bunt down the third-base line and scampered to second on a wild throw. He was then driven in thanks to a double to right-center from Duff. In similar fashion, Duff then scored to make the score 7-12, as a result of a deep double to center from Hauk.
- Justin Lanouette (Chantilly, Va./Freedom) took the first pitch he saw for a ride to right for a single. Once Quici followed with a walk for two baserunners, Wernoski moved them to second and third after a sacrifice bunt. Schmitt ripped his third hit of the day, as his single to center drove Lanouette in to slash the lead to four. Down 8-12, Duff was able to use a sacrifice fly to push Quici home to put the count at 9-12. On the next pitch, Hauk singled to left, moving Schmitt over to second. Once a walk from Bowles juiced the bases, Lavanga walked and tallied an RBI to keep the line moving and make the score 10-12.
- In the top of the eighth, a walk and an error resulted in Captains on second and third. Then, a bloop single to center pushed both runs home to establish a 14-10 lead.
- Quici started the bottom of the eighth with a walk, before a double from Wernoski gave the Lemon and Black runners on second and third. After Duff walked to load the bases, CJ Chatterton (Rockville, Md./Georgetown Prep) delivered a clutch pinch hit single to right field, driving in two runs to close the gap to 12-14. Then, Bowles brought it to a one-run game, as he drove Duff in with an RBI single to right. On a full count, Lavanga ripped a single at the third baseman to bring the game all the way back to 14-14. The momentum did not stop there, as Baffone was struck by a pitch to load the bases for the home squad. Then, Lanouette walked it off with a three-RBI double into the left-center gap, coming through with a clutch play to give his team the win.
By The Numbers:
- The Yellow Jackets paced the Captains in hits (18-to-14) and RBI (17-to-14).
- RMC also laced six triples in the game, while the Captains did not tally one.
- The Lemon and Black ended the game with an incredible 1.228 OPS, while CNU only totaled .981.
- With their 13 hits in the eight innings of play, the Yellow Jackets have eight-or-more in 18 of their 21 games played this season.
- Lanouette finished play with three RBI and two hits, including the game-winning double for RMC.
- Lavanga ended play with two hits, two runs and two RBI, which included his first extra base hit as a Yellow Jacket.
- Schmitt led the team with three hits, as he also had two RBI and two runs.
- Bowles led the team lead with three RBI, as he had two hits, two runs and two walks.
- Wernoski, Hauk, and Baffone also had multi-hit games. The trio combined for six hits, three RBI and two walks.
- Quici had a hit and two runs, with his lone hit being a double. He also finished with a game-high three walks, giving RMC runners when it needed it most.
- Duff went three-for-three with a double, two RBI and three runs. Chatterteon joined him as the other Yellow Jacket to go perfect at the plate, going one-for-one in the clutch with his two-RBI single
For the Record:
- With his three hits in today's contest, Schmitt now has 195 in his career. With the mark, the senior surpassed Myles Webb (193, 2021-24) for the eighth-most hits in program history.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets host a doubleheader against Bridgewater on Saturday, April 4 at noon in Ashland, Va.
