Turks Win 5-4 In 13 Innings

06/13/2010 – Turks Tidbits

By Brett Kucheruk Turks Webcast Color Commentator James Madison University Intern

Winchester, VA – The cardiac Turks were at it again Sunday night in Winchester beating the Royals 5-4 in 13 innings. This was Harrisonburg’s fourth game of the early season that has made it to extra innings.

Terrance Jackson (Oklahoma City) relieved Aaron Luchterhand (Redlands C.C.) in the bottom of ninth inning stepping into the toughest situation for a reliever, bases loaded with no outs. Jackson got the first batter to ground back to him to get the first out at home, and then struck out the next two Royals batters to get the Turks out of the inning unharmed. Over the next four innings, Jackson dominated the Winchester batters allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out seven more Royals batters to get the win.

During the first eight innings, there were two ties and three lead changes with Winchester leading 4-3 heading into the top of the ninth. Reuben Sosa (Western Oklahoma) got the inning started after Joe Huber (St. Joseph’s College) lined out sharply to the shortstop with a single to right. Sosa then stole second and Jackson followed with a double to center, advancing Sosa to third. After Connor Winn (Georgia Tech) was intentionally walked, Patrick Savage (Auburn) grounded out to third scoring Sosa to tie the game at four.

In the top of the 13th inning, Huber was hit by the second pitch, Sosa walked, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. The bases were loaded when Jackson was intentionally walked. On the next pitch, new Royals reliever, Stephen Cooke (IUP), threw a wild pitch allowing Huber to score giving Harrisonburg a 5-4 lead, the final lead change of the night.

Brian Holmes (Young Harris College) started the game for the Turks, pitching 4 and 2/3 innings and was relieved by Kurt Wunderlich (Michigan State) in the fifth inning. Luchterhand relieved Wunderlich and pitched two innings before Jackson came in to finish the game.

The Turks play at Luray on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and return home on Wednesday to play Haymarket at 7:30 p.m.