TYSONS, Va. – The Yellow Jackets spread their scoring across three innings while limiting their runners left on base, but dropped its contest against the first-seeded Lynchburg Hornets.
The Basics
Score: (1) Lynchburg 9, (3) Randolph-Macon 5
Venue: Tysons, Va. // Capital One Park
Records: (3) Randolph-Macon (26-14, 13-7 ODAC), (1) Lynchburg (34-5-1, 18-1-1 ODAC)
How It Happened:
- Zach Stolze (Townson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) drew a one-out walk in the top of the second, marking the first baserunner of the game. On a failed pickoff attempt, he was then able to advance into scoring position. The error ended up being costly, as the Yellow Jackets saw James Baffone (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) drive Stolze in with a single up the middle for an early 1-0 lead.
- The first and second Hornets each singled to left and center in the bottom of the second. After the next batter struck out, LYN dropped in a single to center, driving one run in to even the contest.
- Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) led off the top of the third and hustled for a double into the right-center gap. A sacrifice fly from Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) moved him to third, allowing Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) to give his team a 2-0 lead, as he forced Bowles in after an infield error from LYN.
- In the bottom of the fourth, a single on a full count and a walk put a Hornet in scoring position. The next batter drew a walk, permitting a pinch-hit ground ball down the line to tie the contest 2-2 despite recording back-to-back strikeouts.
- Lynchburg used three consecutive singles to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth, before a fielder's choice pushed one run across, resulting in a 3-2 LYN advantage. With two runners on base, the Hornets homered to left, extending the cushion to 6-2.
- In the top of the sixth, Wernoski was hit by a pitch and was then scooted to second on a walk from Schmitt. In the clutch, Stolze launched a no-doubter over the left field fence, bringing his team back within one on the three-run shot.
- The Hornets got right back in the bottom of the same inning, as a leadoff double was followed by a walk and a double-steal. An infield ground ball resulted in a 7-5 lead, as a result of an error from the Lemon and Black. LYN extended its advantage to 9-5 after a two-RBI single to center.
By The Numbers:
- Lynchburg paced Randolph-Macon 10-to-five in hits and eight-to-five in RBI.
- RMC won the left on base battle, as it only stranded three while LYN left eight.
- The two programs tied with eight strikeouts a piece, while Lynchburg drew two additional walks (five-to-three).
- Peter Philips (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Leakes) pitched four complete innings and used 94 pitches. He only gave up one earned run on four hits, while striking out three.
- Stolze's three-run shot was his third home run of the season, as his team-high three RBI tied for the game-high. He also led RMC with two runs scored, while drawing a walk.
- Baffone joined Stolze as the only other Yellow Jacket to have both a hit, RBI and walk.
- Bowles and Lanouette each went 1-for-4 with a double and the right fielder added a run.
- Duff had RMC's remaining hit and Schmitt's walk marked the team's remaining RBI.
For the Record:
- Schmitt's run scored gives him 146 in his career, allowing him to surpass Jeb Weymouth (145, 2010-23) for the fourth-most in program history. He only trails Mike Nickles (147, 2017-21), Jeff Butler (161, 2016-19) and Ryan Duphorn (205, 2017-21) on RMC's all-time list.
- After compiling six at-bats over the weekend, Schmitt now has 608. With the value, he surpassed Jeb Weymouth (604, 2010-13) for the third-most in Randolph-Macon history.
- Wernoski has now gotten on base in 23 consecutive games, while Bowles extended his on-base streak to 17 games in-a-row.
- With their runs, Bowles has now crossed the plate in 10 consecutive games, while Wernoski has scored in each of his last eight.
- Stolze was named to the ODAC All-Tournament Team, as the junior is representing RMC.
Up Next
The Lemon and Black will await their potential selection to the NCAA Tournament, with the selection show taking place on Monday, May 11, at noon.
