07/11/2009 – Turks Tidbits
Written By Matthew Vanover James Madison University Intern
Harrisonburg, VA – The Turks have now taken all five meetings against central division leader and rival Luray as they come from behind to take a 5-4 win over the Wranglers. Luray jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning with four hits, three of which were bloopers that found green grass. The one two punch of Pablo Bermudez (Miami Shores, Flahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Florida International) and Drew Martinez (Collierville, Tennhttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Memphis) led the game off with back to back hits to put Turks starting pitcher and Valley League all-star Ali Simpson’s (Campbell River, Province B.Chttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Bethune Cookman) back against the wall. After giving up a pair of walks and two more base hits, Parker Brunelle (Snellville, Ga/Florida State) ended the bases loaded threat when he caught Jacob Wilson (Arlington, Tennhttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Memphis) napping on the base path as he picked him off at third base. The Turks wasted little time to even the score up. In the bottom of the second with the score still 2-0, Nathan Bryan (Andrews, Txhttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Oklahoma State) and Parker Brunelle (Snellville, Ga/Florida State) had back to back one out singles to start the Turks rally. After Victor Croglio (Fayetville, N.Yhttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Richmond) drew a walk to load the bases, Ryan Eden (Slidell, Lahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Univ. of New Orleans) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Bryan from third and put the Turks on the board. After a passed ball advanced Brunelle and Croglio to second and third, Thomas Nichols (Georgia Tech) singled to center field to score both runners and even the score at three. After a rough first inning, Ali Simpson (Campbell River, B.Chttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Bethune Cookman) settled down to give the Turks a quality start. Simpson improved to 3-0 on the season as he pitched six innnings giving up four earned runs while striking out nine. Simpson, who gave up four hits in the first innning, gave up just two more hits on the day as he took command on the mound. The Turks tacked on a run in both the third and fourth innings to take a 5-3 lead. Parker Brunelle (Snellville, Gahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Florida State) and Bobby Brown (San Diego, Califhttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Arizona) both had productive days at the plate for the Turks. Brunelle was two-for-three with a walk and an RBI, while Brown was three-for-four with a run scored. Joey Munoz (Deltona, Flahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Bethune Cookman) came in to pitch in the top of the seventh inning in relief of Simpson. Munoz made quick work of the Wranglers, striking out two batters in one inning of work. Munoz gave way to Brad Riddle (Bethany, Okhttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Oklahoma City) who followed suit by closing out the Wranglers. Riddle pitched the final two innings of the game giving up just one hit while earning his second save of the season. The Turks are on the road until next Saturday when they return to Long Field Mauck Stadium to take on New Market at 5 p.m.