Turks Win Opener 5-4 Against Generals
Written By Daniel Ware
JMU Intern
JMU Intern
HARRISONBURG, Va. (June 1, 2016) – The Harrisonburg Turks opened their season with a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Waynesboro Generals in 10 innings at Veterans Memorial Park Wednesday.
Turks left fielder Jason Serchay from the University of Texas-San Antonio ripped a single back up the middle to score catcher Mason George, also of UTSA, from second base. George started the two-out rally with a single through the left side and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch.That wasn’t the only time the Turks had to come up with a clutch hit. Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, third basemen Ty Comer (Ferrum College) doubled just inside the first-base bag to lead things off. Right fielder Tanner Dofflemyer (James Madison) sacrificed Comer to third, where he scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Tripp Shelton (UNCG) and tied the game 4-4.
Right-hander Christian Bourne retired all six batters he faced when he relieved fellow James Madison teammate Eric Yankey with runners at the corners and the game tied 3-3 in the ninth. Although a Bourne wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to score, he picked up the pitching win.
Yankey, who returned to the mound for the first time as a Turk since a car accident ended his 2015 season, pitched well, retiring the first nine batters he faced. He gave up the game-tying home run to first baseman Zach Sterry, to start the ninth inning, followed by back-to-back bunt singles before yielding to Bourne. Yankey gave up just one earned run, fanned two and walked none.
Starting on the mound for the Turks was Greg Paprocki. The right-hander from LaSalle University struggled with his command early in the game, hitting the first batter and walking the second on four pitches. He effectively worked out of jams and allowed two hits, two runs and four walks in five innings with no decision.Right-hander Tyler Davis, Waynesboro’s starting pitcher, was in total command of his pitches. The right-hander from the University of Kansas struck out nine, walked none and allowed one run in five innings of work before giving way to right-hander Tyler Elwer of Georgia State.
Harrisonburg’s 1-8 hitters all registered at least one hit, with Popatak, Serchay and Comer recording two hits.
The Turks wrap up a brief two-game homestand Thursday against the Charlottesville Tom Sox (0-1) at 7:30 p.m.
