ASHLAND, Va. – After the sixth-seeded Marlins brought the contest back within one run, Randolph-Macon used a four run eighth inning to secure a 10-4 victory.
The Basics
Score: (RV) Randolph-Macon 10, Virginia Wesleyan 4
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park // Randolph-Macon College
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (26-12, 13-7 ODAC), Virginia Wesleyan (20-20, 10-10 ODAC)
How It Happened:
- The Marlins got on the board in the top of the first, as an infield ground ball and home run to left gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.
- In the bottom of the first, Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) was hit by the first pitch of his at-bat and then took second on a passed ball. Logan Duff (Forest, Va./Liberty Chrisitan) converted with two outs, as the catcher dropped a single into right to get his team back within one, trailing 1-2. Zach Stolze (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) placed a single to shallow center and James Baffone (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) followed with a single of his own, loading the bases for RMC. The Yellow Jackets evened the game 2-2, as a result of Justin Lanouette (Chantilly, Va./Freedom) drawing a walk on a full count.
- With one out in the bottom of the second, Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) worked for a walk and then advanced to third on a double down the left field line from Wernoski. Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) laced a triple over the center fielder's head, giving his team a 4-2 lead after his first hit of the series. The senior tagged up to extend the lead to 5-2, on a sacrifice fly to right from Duff.
- With two outs in the top of the fifth, the Marlins drove one run in on a walk and a chopper down the line, closing the gap to 3-5.
- Virginia Wesleyan tallied its second home run of the game in the top of the sixth, bringing the contest back within one run.
- Schmitt worked for a one out walk in the bottom of the seventh and then took second on a wild pitch. Stolze pushed him to third with an infield single and then Schmitt scored, thanks to a single up the middle from Baffone.
- Caleb Hawton-Henley (Fairfax, Va./St. Jonh's Prep) was drilled by the first pitch of his at-bat in the bottom of the eighth and then advanced to third on a deep double from Bowles. Wernoski used a fielder's choice to load the bases and then Schmitt cashed in on an RBI single, extending his team's lead to 7-4. On the next pitch, Duff replicated the same single, pushing the Yellow Jackets to an 8-4 edge. Stolze kept the line moving, as he broke the game open with a single to right to increase the count to 10-4.
By The Numbers:
- Randolph-Macon paced Virginia Wesleyan 14-to-six in hits, while leading 10-to-four in RBI.
- Seven Yellow Jackets recorded hits, while the Marlins only had four.
- The Lemon and Black had a slight five-to-four advantage in walks drawn.
- William Wian (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) allowed one earned run on three hits over five complete innings of work.
- Stolze tied for a game-high three hits, including a double, while also finishing play with two RBI.
- Baffone joined Stolze as the only players with three hits, while Baffone also had an RBI.
- Hawton-Henley was two-for-two with a walk and was also hit by a pitch, putting him on base in all four plate appearances.
- Schmitt tied for a game-high three RBI, as he reached the mark on two hits, including a triple. He also had three runs scored, which ties Wernoski for the most in the game.
- Duff joined Schmitt with three RBI on two hits, as he also crossed the plate.
- Bowles led the game with two walks and he also scored twice.
For the Record:
- With his walk today, Schmitt now has 116 in his career. With the mark, he tied Ryan Duphorn (2017-21) for the most in program history.
- Schmitt posted two hits against the Marlins, giving him 215 in his career. The senior tied Jordan Walton (2009-12) for the second-most in program history and trails Jeff Butler (2016-19) by 21 for the most all-time.
- Randolph-Macon has now beaten Virginia Wesleyan in 15 of its last 16 contests.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets travel to Tysons, Va., to compete in the Second Round of the ODAC Championship on May 7-9, with the opponent and time to be determined.
