ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon baseball used a single inning season-high 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth to defeat Virginia Wesleyan in seven innings.
The Basics
Score: (RV) Randolph-Macon 14, Virginia Wesleyan 4
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park // Randolph-Macon College
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (25-12, 13-7 ODAC), Virginia Wesleyan (20-19, 10-10 ODAC)
How It Happened:
- With one out, the Marlins used back-to-back singles to get runners on the corners in the top of the fourth. The next batter placed a sacrifice bunt down the line, driving in the first run of the game for a 1-0 VWU lead. The visitors used a single up the middle in the following at-bat to create a 2-0 advantage.
- The Yellow Jackets responded in the bottom of the same inning, as James Baffone (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) drew a walk with two outs. A single through the left side from Justin Lanouette (Chantilly, Va./Freedom) moved Baffone to third, earning runners on the corners. Jon Quici (Paoli Pa./Conestoga) took advantage of the chance, as he laced a single to left on the first pitch he saw, bringing his team back within one.
- Randolph-Macon resumed scoring in the bottom of the fifth, as Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) and Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) ripped back-to-back singles. The Yellow Jackets used a double-steal to place runners on second and third, allowing a rocket single from Logan Duff (Forest, Va./Liberty Christian) to even the contest, 2-2. Zach Stolze (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) drew a walk to load the bases and then Lanouette came through with a clutch shot up the middle, pushing two more Yellow Jackets across for a 4-2 edge. Quici was hit by his first pitch he saw to reload the bases and then Caleb Hawton-Henley (Fairfax, Va./St. John's Prep) was also put on first after a walk, forcing Stolze home for a 5-2 RMC lead. The Marlins opted for a pitching change, but Bowles was able to work yet another walk, increasing the cushion to 6-2. Wernoski tallied his fourth hit of the afternoon and two RBI on a line drive single at the third baseman, putting the count at 8-2. As the 12th batter of the inning, Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) lobbed a ball down the left field line, registering two more runs for the Lemon and Black and a 10-2 score. Duff drew his team's fifth walk of the afternoon and was followed by Stolze and Baffone who were both hit by pitches in consecutive at-bats, extending the home team advantage to 11-2. After giving his team the lead earlier in the inning, Lanouette was hit in the back to force another RMC run across the plate for a 10-run lead.
- The Marlins responded in the top of the sixth, as the first two batters posted a single and a double for runners on second and third. Despite getting two outs, RMC allowed a single through the right side and two runs for VWU, putting the score at 4-12.
- On the first pitch of his at-bat in the bottom of the seventh, Stolze was hit by his third consecutive pitch. Lanouette continued his hot hitting and buried a double into left-center field, which drove Baffone in for a 13-4 advantage. Quici was hit by his first pitch to insert Jackets on first and second and it was Hawton-Henley who ended the game, as the freshman used a walkoff double to right to complete a 14-4 victory.
By The Numbers:
- The Yellow Jackets out-hit the Marlins, 11-to-seven, while leading 15-to-four in RBI.
- Randolph-Macon drew six walks in the seven innings, while only giving up one.
- RMC was all over the basepath, as the team stole four bases while VWU got one.
- With their error-free play, the Lemon and Black finished with no errors in three of their past four games.
- Wernoski had a career day, finishing with a personal best five hits in five at-bats, while also adding two runs, two RBI and two steals.
- Lanouette joined Wernoski as the other Yellow Jacket with multiple hits, as he had three hits for a game-high four RBI, while also scoring twice.
- The sophomore's four RBI is a new career-high, as he now has three-or-more RBI in three of his last four games.
- Hawton-Henley had a career-high three RBI, while Schmitt tallied two to represent the remaining RMC players with multiple RBI.
- Bowles led the game with two walks, as he also finished with a hit, run and RBI in the leadoff slot.
- Peter Philips (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) went six full innings on the mound, giving up seven hits and four runs with three strikeouts. The junior did not walk a batter.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets host the Marlins for game two of their three-game series on Sunday, May 3 at noon, on Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park in Ashland.
