WP: Chavez (3-0)- 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 2 Ks
LP: Horkey (1-1)- 6 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
S: Wiseman- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 Ks
WAYNESBORO, Va., June 21, 2015 – Exploding for five runs in the first inning, the Harrisonburg Turks went wire-to-wire in a 6-4 Father’s Day victory over the Waynesboro Generals at Kate Collins Field on Sunday night.
After Shane Billings and Tripp Shelton reached base to begin the game, Tyler Straub singled to center to get the scoring started. Aaron Dodson followed with a single to score Shelton and three batters later, Trevor Denton dropped a single in front of the right fielder to plate two more. Unable to handle a grounder from Wade Bailey, Waynesboro’s Ryan Gridley was charged with an error at second base that scored J.J. Bissell for the final run of the inning. The Turks ultimately batted around in the first inning, scoring five runs that would prove to be enough despite the Generals’ comeback efforts.
The Turks push their record to 8-5 on the season while the Generals drop to 6-7.
Jesse Baker would lead the Turks offense with a 3-for-4 performance that included a run scored and RBI thanks to his first home run of the season. The home run, which came in the fourth inning, would prove to be the only run scored by the Turks in the final eight frames. Tyler Straub, hitting in the cleanup spot for the first time this season, went 3-for-5 with a run scored and RBI as well.
Billings’ batting average now sits at .426 following a two-hit showing tonight and was joined by Dodson, Bissell, and Denton in the club of players who had two hits in the contest.
Carlos Chavez (3-0) lowered his ERA on the year to 1.20 with a final line of four hits, two runs, two earned runs, six walks and two strikeouts all over five innings. The Georgia Tech teammate duo of Jared Datoc and Patrick Wiseman would account for the final four innings with Wiseman tossing a scoreless 9th to earn his first save.
On the other side, UNC Charlotte pitcher Matt Horkey (1-1) took the loss for the Generals after allowing six runs on 13 hits over six innings. Jamal Wilson and Brock Turner did well to give Waynesboro a chance out of the bullpen, giving up no runs and only two hits over three innings.
Generals’ second baseman Ryan Gridley was the only standout in the Waynesboro offense, going 3-for-5 with a run scored, pushing his batting average to .314 on the year.
Due to the rainout on Saturday, June 20, the Turks will have a make-up game tomorrow night at JMU’s Veterans Memorial Park. The Charlottesville Tom Sox will travel to Harrisonburg for a 7:30 p.m. start. See you there and go Turks!