Charlottesville Tom Sox at Purcellville Cannons

Recap

By Maddie McNamee

Tom Sox Sweep Series vs. Cannons, Take Game Three 4-2

The Charlottesville Tom Sox defeated the Purcellville Cannons 4-2 on Tuesday night. The game was what would be considered a low-scoring affair by the series’ standard – the ‘Sox scored a total of 35 runs in the first two meetings. While tonight’s victory did not reflect the immense prior success of the offense against this opponent, the Tom Sox defense shined tonight instead.

Both teams had an impressive start to the night offensively. In the first inning, the Cannons scored two runs off of Ethan Sund (North Park). Purcellville’s B.T. Riopelle hit a solo home run with one out, followed by a triple by Morgan Hyde which scored Michael Brewer.

The Tom Sox mirrored the Cannons’ offensive action in the next half inning, as they scored two runs in the top of the second.  Ramon Garza (Cornell) scored off an RBI single by Josh Simon (VCU) with one out. Walker Imwalle (Davidson) then scored with two outs off of a sacrifice fly by Brock Edge (Florida) to tie the game at 2-2.

The bottom of the fourth is when the Tom Sox’s defense portrayed excellency. The level of throwing strength from Charlottesville saved the team from giving up 2 more runs to the Cannons. Dan Harwood (Wooster) made up for a bobble in left and finished the play with a great outfield assist to Simon to punch out a runner at home; earning the first out. To end the inning, Cayman Richardson (Virginia) had his own assist on an exceptionally accurate throw from deep center field to catch the runner out at home.

Charlottesville added to their offensive action in the top of the fifth. Richardson singled to center field, then Cavalier teammate Christian Hlinka followed it up with a single of his own. Both players advanced on a wild pitch, thus putting them both in scoring position. They then ended up in a pickle in the same play; however, Richardson was safe at third while Hlinka was called out at second. Richardson was then able to score the go-ahead run off of an RBI single by Harwood. Purcellville native Trey McDyre (Liberty) added to the ‘Sox lead, scoring off a throwing error by the Cannons.

After Ethan Sund pitched four complete innings and gave up two runs, Jacob Haney came on to pitch and earned the win, tossing four scoreless innings out of the ‘pen.

Alaska Abney (Coastal Carolina) pitched the ninth for Charlottesville, giving up one hit and closing out the game with a strikeout to earn the save.

The Tom Sox finish up their three-game road trip tomorrow as they travel to Woodstock to face the River Bandits at 7 p.m. and hope to start a new win streak.