By Jen Kulju
Turks Staff Writer

HARRISONBURG – It’s been quite a week for Austin Embler (UNC Greensboro). Embler drove in the winning run on Monday to give the Turks a 2-1 victory in the tenth inning over the Covington Lumberjacks. On Friday, Embler tripled in the eleventh inning, which led to a 3-2 win over the Staunton Braves.

“Austin is doing a great job,” says head coach Bob Wease. “He’s hitting around .500 and making great plays in the field.”

Embler led off the eleventh inning with a triple against Brycen Thomas, who intentionally walked Zach Little (Wingate) and Brett Whelton (McNeese State) to load the bases. The Braves brought in Adrian Santiago to pitch to Luke Nussman (Shenandoah), but before Nussman even had a chance to swing the bat, Embler scored on a passed ball to win the game for the Turks.

Embler also had an RBI in the eighth. With one out, Elian Merejo (Georgia State) came in to pinch hit for Davis Craan (Illinois). Merejo walked and scored after Kyle Johnson (Rider) tripled to right center. Embler blooped a ball into left field for a hit, scoring Johnson.

Staunton’s runs came in the first inning when Brandon Hernandez doubled down the left field line to start the game. Brett Willett followed with a home run, who hit a home run the last time Staunton was in Harrisonburg and defeated the Turks.

“We had one bad pitch [resulting in the home run],” reveals Wease. “Other than that, our pitchers did a great job.”

Andrew Bohm (Purdue) pitched the first five innings for the Turks, giving up two runs, four hits and striking out six. Cade Bullinger (Midland College) entered in relief. He struck out two and did not allow a hit or run in three innings pitched. Rafe Schindler (New Orleans) shut down the Braves in the final three innings to get the win. Brycen Thomas got the loss.

The Turks are now 6-4 and play again at home Saturday night against the Waynesboro Generals.