By: Michael Janney, JMU Intern

Harrisonburg, Va., June 14, 2005- New Market took advantage of Harrisonburg’s poor play, as the Turks defense committed four errors and the pitching walked nine in a 3-2 loss to New Market on Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. With the loss Harrisonburg fell to 4-6 and New Market continued their seven game win streak to improve to 9-1. The Rebels lone loss of season came at the hands of the Turks on June 5, as Harrisonburg defeated New Market 5-1 at Rebel Park. Harrisonburg took an early 1-0 lead after left fielder Scott Cousins (San Francisco) scored on a single to right field by first baseman Clint Robinson (Troy). In the top of the third, Harrisonburg allowed New Market to score three runs off of only two hits and three Turk errors. Only one of the Rebel runs in the inning were earned. In the eight, the Turks led off the inning with a double by Robinson, who later scored by a sacrifice-fly by short stop Brett Munster (Cal-Berkeley). But that was all the Turks could muster up against the Rebels. In the ninth, the Rebels closer Matt Chambless (West Alabama) entered shutting down Harrisonburg’s offense. Chambless struck out the first two batters and forced the final batter to ground back to Chambless who then tossed the ball to first base for the final out. The save was Chambless’s fifth of the summer, a league high. New Market received a solid performance from their starter Matt Restivo (Stony Brook), who worked eight innings, allowing eight hits, two runs, and struck out seven batters. Harrisonburg was led by Cousins and Robinson. Cousins went 2-3 with a run scored, while Robinson went 2-4, one RBI, and one run scored. Shawn Benson (Yavapai JC) suffered the loss, falling to 2-1 on the season. Benson pitched 4 2/3 inning allowing three runs, one earned, four hits, struck out two, but struggled with his control walking six. Harrisonburg has lost three straight since this past Friday night’s game when the Turks dropped Front Royal 12-4, mainly due to the lack of offense and poor defense. The Turks are only batting .235 on the season and have committed 17 errors in the past three losses. The Turks will travel up I-81 to square off with the River Bandits in Woodstock on Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. start. Harrisonburg will return to Veterans Memorial Stadium to host Covington on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.