Late comebacks for the Turks fell short twice on Tuesday, losing both seven-inning games of a double header with the Culpeper Cavaliers 3-2 and 5-4, respectively. The two losses extended Harrisonburg’s losing streak to 4 following a doubleheader loss to the Waynesboro Generals a day earlier. 

Turks shortstop Jose Perez collected Harrisonburg’s only RBI of game one with a solo home run to right field in the first inning. The home run was Perez’ second of the summer and gave him his eleventh RBI, the fifth-most for the Turks this season.

Despite the early lead, the Turks could not hold the line as a throwing error and a passed ball in the bottom of the first inning allowed Culpeper right fielder Kaz Jordan and left fielder Gabe Larry to score two runs. Larry later scored in the fourth inning on a single to center field by second baseman Ryan Kroepel. Harrisonburg starting pitcher Cam Nelson left the game after one inning following a collision near home plate resulting in the third out.

Harrisonburg made a final push in the top of the seventh inning when second baseman Jalen Evans singled to bring home pinch hitter Brett Wehringer, shrinking the Culpeper lead to one run. Center fielder Cooper Prince then singled to bring Evans to third base, However, a popout to the shortstop cut the Turk’s efforts off to give the first game to the Cavaliers.

At the start of game two, Harrisonburg’s bats regained their spark as the Turks put up three runs in the first two innings. Prince scored in the first inning on a single from catcher Jack Cannizzaro and then hit a sacrifice fly to right in the second, which scored Wehringer. Prince has collected eight RBI and drawn 17 walks in just 11 games with the Turks this summer.

Not to be outdone, the Cavaliers responded with three runs of their own in the second inning. Kroepel doubled to center field, scoring catcher Caden Christman, and first baseman Jon Howard brought in two more runs with a single to left field. 

With the Cavaliers again taking a 2-run lead into the seventh inning, the Turks mounted another comeback. Left fielder Chris Katz led off the inning with a single and later scored on a wild pitch to bring the Turks within one run. However, the Turks only managed one other base runner in the inning with designated hitter Anthony Zarlingo drawing a walk. A strikeout from right fielder Ethan Murdoch ended Harrisonburg’s hopes of a win and brought the Turks’ losing streak to four games.

With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Turks hold second place in the South Division, 3.5 games ahead of the Covington Lumberjacks. The two teams will meet tonight in Covington for a game that could have large implications in the final stretch of the playoff race. First pitch is set for 7 pm.