WP: Ziemba (2-0)- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

LP: Scott (2-1)- 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., July 2, 2015- Harrisonburg scored in three of the first four innings while James Ziemba tossed five scoreless to secure a 5-0, wire-to-wire victory over the Charlottesville Tom Sox at C-Ville Weekly Park on Thursday night.

Following a leadoff single, Shane Billings moved to second when Tripp Shelton was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Jesse Baker got a hold of a pitch just enough to score Billings on a sacrifice fly and give the Turks a lead that never faltered.

After making his first four appearances of the season out of the bullpen, James Ziemba (2-0) made his second start of the season and did not disappoint. The 6-foot, 10-inch lefty out of Duke University scattered three hits and struck out one without giving up a run in five innings. Jared Datoc and Tyler Brown tossed two scoreless innings in relief each to keep the Tom Sox at bay.

Although Billings and Turks newcomer Ryan Phillips set the tone at the top of the lineup with four hits and two runs batted in between them, the bottom of the lineup really stood out. The 7-8-9 hitters, Jared Baker, Kameron Esthay and Steve McLean, collected at least one hit and scored at least one run each with Esthay crossing the plate twice.

The Turks extended the lead in the 2nd inning when an RBI single by Billings with the bases loaded scored Jared Baker from third. Phillips would follow with an RBI single of his own to score to Esthay and make it 3-0 before a double play ended the inning.

The lead would jump to 5-0 in the 4th inning after Esthay scores on an error by the Tom Sox’s shortstop and McLean stole home during the following at-bat.

It was a rough day at the office for Charlottesville starter Michael Scott (2-1). The Henrico, Virginia native gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits over 4 innings of work. Zack Cook and Jack Roberts each threw a scoreless inning in the 8th and 9th respectively with Harrison Richards tossing three scoreless behind Scott.

Leadoff hitter Billy Cooke was the only Tom Sox batter with a multi-hit game, collecting two singles while the rest of the team only had two hits combined.

Harrisonburg has now won four in a row and 10 of 11 games as they continue to sit atop the Valley Baseball League standings with a record of 16-6.

Baseball returns to Veterans Memorial Park tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. when the Turks welcome the Waynesboro Generals to Harrisonburg. See you there and go Turks!