WP: Hartman (3-0)- 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 Ks

LP: Avans (3-1)- 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 Ks

STRASBURG, Va., June 29, 2015 – The Turks made a statement Monday night thanks to a 9-2 victory over the first place Strasburg Express at First Bank Park. Tripp Shelton, Jesse Baker and Tyler Straub homered in three consecutive innings to get the Turks their first multi-home run game of the season.

Tyler Straub collected his sixth RBI of the season when he singled home Steve McLean in the 3rd, giving the Turks an early 1-0 lead. Then, the 6’4” senior from the University of Texas: San Antonio capped the scoring with a three-run homer in the 8th to push the Turks lead to 9-1.

With the win the Turks (13-6) move into sole possession of first place in the Valley Baseball League South division and the Express fall to 12-6, but maintain first in the VBL North division.

Eight of nine Turks starters managed at least one hit in the game with Shane Billings and Straub each collecting two. Not to be out done, Jared Baker and McLean both went 3-for-5 from the plate. The Turks double-digit hit effort (15 tonight) was their first since accumulating 10 hits against the Aldie Senators on June 24th.

Matt Hartman once again did the University of Arizona proud, earning his third win in three games. The righty scattered one run (one earned) on two hits over 5 excellent innings. Tucker McCoy threw two scoreless innings and has now only allowed one earned run in 10.2 innings this season. Jared Datoc was called upon to work the final two innings and successfully did so, allowing only one run.

Despite working six walks, the Express were never able to find their rhythm at the plate against Harrisonburg pitching. Donovan May and Brandon Harvell accounted for the entirety of Strasburg’s offensive output with 2-for-3 and 1-for-2 performances respectively.

Drew Avans had his worst start of the season for the Express on the mound. He came in to the night with a 3-0 record and a 0.60 earned run average but was roughed up for five runs (three earned) on seven hits over 6 innings.

The Turks extended their lead to 2-0 in the fifth thanks to a sacrifice fly by Aaron Dodson, but the Express answered right back with their own sac fly by Ryan Flick. 2-1 was as close as it would get for the rest of the game however as the Harrisonburg offense would put runs on the board in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to put to game out of reach.

The Turks will look to make it two in a row when they welcome the Covington Lumberjacks to Veterans Memorial Park at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night. See you there and go Turks!