Turks Defeat Woodstock 5-3

06/29/2011 – Turks Tidbits

Written by Nathaniel Stoltz James Madison University Harrisonburg – The Turks won their 18th game of the season Wednesday night, beating division rival Woodstock 5-3 to continue their dominance at Veterans Memorial Park. Starting pitcher Niko Spezial and three relievers combined on a solid pitching effort.

Left fielder Dodson McPherson, coming into the game in a bit of a slump after striking out three times Tuesday, snapped out of it with a key two-run triple in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and ultimately decide the game.

The Turks were lucky to keep the River Bandits’ run total so low. Spezial allowed a run in the first inning but avoided further damage when McPherson threw Woodstock designated hitter Michael Vinson out at the plate. Spezial then started the second with a hit-by-pitch and two walks to load the bases with no outs, but three shallow flyouts stranded the baserunners.

The Wake Forest lefty settled in from there, stranding another runner on second in the third and getting 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and sixth. Woodstock did manage to scratch across another run in the fifth on an RBI single from catcher Scott Burkett.

That run only tied the game up, however, as Harrisonburg had scored twice in the fourth off of Woodstock starter Brian Valente, as shortstop Robert Perucki fought off an 0-2 fastball and punched it down the right field line for an RBI double and then scored on a Ty McFarland single.

The Turks got an insurance run in the eighth on an error by Woodstock right fielder Scott Liske, and Pat Christensen had a 1-2-3 ninth for the save. The winning pitcher was reliever Dominic Sgroi, and Woodstock reliever Cory Rhodes took the loss.

Every lineup spot in the Turks batting order reached base in the game.

Harrisonburg takes their Valley League-leading 18-5 record to the road tomorrow and Friday before returning home Saturday, July 2nd to host Front Royal for the first time in 2011.