The Harrisonburg Turks returned to Veterans Memorial Park after a week on the road and picked up a 6-1 win over the Staunton Braves.
The Turks (3-2) got things going on offense early in the game as Bryan Arias hit a solo home run over the right field fence in the first inning, his second homer of the season. Arias hit .321 this season at UTSA and continues to rake this summer with a .545 batting average (12-22).
The second baseman carried the Turks lineup on the night, going 3-4 with three RBIs. Arias came up to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning and worked the count to draw a walk, scoring Luke Shifflett (Alderson-Broaddus) from third.
In the bottom of the sixth, Arias came up big again, ripping a double down the right field line, scoring JMU’s Tanner Dofflemyer.
The Turks were up against Brandon Gochenour (Potomac State College), who struggled with his command. The right-hander walked three batters in four innings of work and allowed two runs, both of them earned.
The score perhaps should have been more of a blowout as Harrisonburg was helped by some subpar defense by the Braves, who committed three errors. The Turks as a team left 12 runners on base
The heart of the order proved to be key for the Turks tonight. The 3-4 hitters, Arias and first baseman Greg Popatak (George Mason) respectively, combined to go 6-8. Catcher Mason George (UTSA) drove in two runs on the night, one with a bases loaded walk in the sixth, and the other with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Right-hander Corey Childress (Troy University) was solid on the mound for the Turks, scattering four hits over seven innings and allowing just one run. JMU’s Christian Bourne came on in relief and tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
Wake Forest right-hander Donnie Sellers dominated in his Turks debut. He struck out the side in the ninth inning on 13 pitches.
The Turks are a game back from first place in the South Division and return to action Friday, June 10 as they host the North Division-leading Strasburg Express (6-1) at 7:30 p.m.