By Jen Kulju
Turks Staff Writer

HARRISONBURG – 

The Harrisonburg Turks started out strong, but could not stop the Waynesboro Generals’ steady stream of hits from adding up in a game that both started late and ended early due to rain. After scoring three runs in the first inning, the Turks managed only two more runs in the fifth while the Generals scored in six of seven-and-a-half innings played to win 12-5. The Generals outhit the Turks 14-6 off of five pitchers, and four errors in the field (resulting in one unearned run) didn’t help the Turks’ cause.

Pitcher Andrew Bohm (Purdue) started the game for the Turks. He had six strikeouts, but allowed six runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings pitched. Matt Ellmyer was the starting pitcher for Waynesboro. He also struck out six, allowing five runs on five hits in 4.2 innings pitched.

Waynesboro scored first when leadoff hitter Gabe Montenegro doubled to right center field and then after advancing to third on a wild pitch, crossed the plate on a triple to left center by Tyler Bielamowicz.

The Turks bounced back in the bottom of the first to take the lead 3-1. Caleb Walls (Pasco-Hernando State College) led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error by Ellmyer back to first. Austin Embler (UNC Greensboro) walked. Zach Little (Wingate) doubled down the third base line, scoring Walls. Embler scored on a wild pitch to Elian Merejo (Georgia State), who then had an infield hit to score Little.

The only other Turks’ runs came in the fifth when both Walls and Little picked up their second hits of the game. With Grant Van Scoy (Illinois) on first base having been hit by a pitch, Walls singled up the middle. Little followed with a double to left center, scoring Van Scoy. With pitcher Hunter Shuff now at the helm, Walls scored on a passed ball.

The Turks brought in pitchers Daniel Brandon (Longwood) in the fourth, Jake Lane (Florida Tech) in the sixth, and Conner Roberts (University of California, Santa Barbara) followed by Alex Rodriguez (Wingate) in the seventh, but none of them could calm the bats of the hot-hitting Generals.

Pitcher Patrick OShea finished the game for Waynesboro. Ellmyer got the win, and Bohm got the loss.

The Turks are now 10-6 and play their next game at home against the Strasburg Express on Sunday.