A second-inning surge from Charlottesville TomSox put them out of Harrisonburg’s reach on Friday, giving the Turks their fourth straight loss and bringing them to 8-8 on the season.

With the game tied at one apiece in the second inning following an RBI single from Turks right fielder Ethan Murdoch and a score on a wild pitch from TomSox center fielder Cade Belyeu, Charlottesville got six consecutive hitters to reach base safely. The inning culminated when Belyeu returned to the plate and hit a 3-run home run to center field, giving the TomSox six runs in the inning. 

“You just [have to] keep coming out and tell the guys the mistakes they’re making,” Turks head coach Bob Wease said. “When you go down three, four or five runs, you have to play for one big inning. You can’t do that in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning.”

The Turks managed to close the gap somewhat in the following innings, scoring one in the third and three in the fourth. Harrisonburg drew nine total walks, with two of those scoring runs. Murdoch and third baseman Jack Cannizzaro drew the RBI walks and led the team with two RBI’s each. 

Though the Turks made consistent contact at the plate, they could not generate the momentum to score after the fourth inning. Harrisonburg only put multiple runners on base once after the fourth with a single and a walk in the seventh inning, while also hitting into double plays in the sixth and ninth.

The Turks will return to Veterans Memorial Park this evening for a showdown with the Waynesboro Generals. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.