WAYNESBORO, Va,, July 24, 2015 – The Waynesboro Generals were down 5-2 to the Harrisonburg Turks in the bottom of the seventh on Friday, but they rallied to score four runs in that bottom of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. A lead they would not relinquish as the came away with the victory over the Turks 6-5 at Kate Collins Field. The Turks had a chance to clinch the Valley League Baseball pennant with a win.
The Turks entered the bottom of the seventh ahead 5-2. Turks reliever Jared Datoc (Georgia Tech) came in for starter Donte Lindsay. The Generals led off the inning with back-to-back singles by Clayton Taylor (Nebraska Omaha) and Kevin Phillips (East Tennessee State). Then the Generals Joseph Estrada hit into a fielder’s choice, allowing Taylor to reach third base and Estrada to reach first. The Generals pinch hitter Aubrey McCarty (Vanderbilt) stepped in and hit another fielder’s choice scoring Taylor from third to make it 5-3 Harrisonburg. After a walk and a single to the subsequent two hitters. The Generals Stephen Pitarra (North Carolina State) stepped in with the bases loaded and was hit by the pitch from Datoc to force in a run making it 5-4 Turks. Then the Generals best hitter this season Michael Brosseau (Oakland) came up with the bases loaded and singled in two runs to give the Generals a 6-5 lead. That would end up being the final score.
Generals starter Tyler Howe (4-1) pitched six innings, giving up six hits, five runs (only two earned), he walked two and struck out eight. Generals reliever Jamal Wilson came in and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and then Frankie Romero (Stetson) pitched a scoreless ninth to record his fourth save of the season.
The Turks offense scored five runs on six hits. Shane Billings (Wingate) went 1 for 5 with a run scored keeping his average at .420. Steven McLean (Baylor) continued his hot hitting going 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. Jared Baker (Oklahoma City) had the other RBI going 1 for 4 on the night.
Turks starter Donte Lindsay (Bethune-Cookman) pitched well going six innings giving up only four hits and two earned runs. Unfortunately for the Turks, Datoc (1-1) came in and had his worst outing of the season allowing four earned runs, on four hits in two innings pitched.
Overall the Generals offense was led by Taylor and Brosseau. Taylor went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI and Brosseau went 1 for 5 with two RBI. Pitarra also contributed going 1 for 1 with a run scored and an RBI.
The Turks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. With Billings at second and McLean at first the Turks Joe Lytle (Oklahoma City) attempted to move the runners along with a sacrifice bunt, but the Generals starter Howe committed an error allowing Billings to score from second base. Then two batters later, Jared Baker singled home McLean making it 2-0 Turks. Then with Erik Garcia at the plate, a successful double steal occurred which allowed Billings to score to make it 3-0 Turks. The Turks scored their other two runs without the benefit of a hit. An RBI groundout by Tripp Shelton (North Carolina Greensboro) in the second inning and Lytle scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning.
The Turks record drops to 29-12, they will try to clinch the pennant again at home on Saturday as the face the Staunton Braves, game time 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.