Written by Dave Norman
Webcast Broadcaster
Covington, VA – After having their 4-game winning streak ended at home against Charlottesville, the Harrisonburg Turks wasted no time getting back to winning. The Turks scored in four of the first five innings at Casey Field in Covington on Sunday night jumping out to a 5-0 lead.
Bryan Arias (Texas San Antonio) banged a triple that scored 2 in the third to put the Turks in charge early. Tony Beam (Texas San Antonio) drove in three runs on the night with two singles and a sacrifice fly.
The Turks were very active on the bases in the win swiping 6 bases . Patience at the plate was also a common thread as the Turks drew 10 walks and clogged the bases most of the night.
Ty Andrus (Wingate) was terrific setting the table for scoring all night with 3 hits and 2 walks, 2 steals and 2 runs scored. Zach Kuchmaner (UNC Greensboro) had a productive night as well drawing 3 walks and stealing two bases.
Rhett Willis (Florida Tech) started on the mound for the Turks and looked very sharp through three innings. The Lumberjacks would rally, getting on the board when third baseman Bruce Strickland hit a 2-run home run in the fourth inning.
The Turks added a 6th run on a sacrifice fly by Hunter Seay (Baylor) and took a 6-2 lead in the 5th inning. Covington mounted their best attack of the night in the home half of the 5th scoring 3 runs on 4 hits to scratch back to within a run at 6-5.
John Gregory (Longwood) took over for Willis in the 6th and surrendered an unearned run that tied the game at 6. After a scoreless 7th, the Turks plated 3 runs on 3 bits in the 8th to put the game out of reach. Andrew Llewellyn’s (Wingate) laced a 2-RBI double on a scrappy, 11 pitch at-bat after falling behind 0-2 in the count.
Gregory settled things down with a tidy, scoreless 7th and 8th innings. Gregory was the winning pitcher. The Turks added an unearned run in the top of the 9th to take a 10-6 lead.
Chris Farish (Wake Forest) allowed one hit and struck out two in a scoreless 9th to finish the game.
Harrisonburg improves to 9-11. Covington falls to 5-14. The Turks are off on Monday and back in action as they take on the Purcellville Cannons at Fireman’s Field in Purcellville on Tuesday. Game time is 7:00.