Generals Post 7-4 Win Over Harrisonburg
Entering the game, Waynesboro led the season series with Harrisonburg 3 games to 1. The Generals offense would bust out 7 runs on 10 hits and the pitching staff would do a lot of “bending but not breaking” to bring home their 4th win in the series.
The Generals would take the lead early on with 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning and wouldn’t look back. Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston) would lead things off with a single to left. He would be followed up with what looked to be a routine single to center by Chase Cheek (Duke), but the ball got underneath the glove of the Turks centerfielder and allowed runners to advance to make it second and third with nobody out in the inning. Alex Brait (Florida Gulf Coast) wouldn’t waste much time and would single to center to drive both runners in.
The Turks would turn right around and make things a bit closer by scoring in the top of the second. They used back-to-back one-out singles to get a rally started. Generals starter Fred Villarreal (Houston) would do a nice job at minimizing the inning, and would only allow a sacrifice fly to the next hitter and would put out the next batter for out number 3. Heading to the bottom of the second, the score read 2-1 in favor of the Gens.
In the bottom of the second, the Generals would get the run they gave up right back. Dalton Wingo (UCF) would lead things off with a single. He would work his way all the way over to third via wild pitches and passed balls. Bruno Teramoto (New Mexico St) would bring in Wingo with a double down the left field line. The Generals got the score back up to 3-1.
Things would settle down a bit after the first two. Villarreal would start to cruise, as would Eli Ellington for Harrisonburg. Ellington was subbed in after just 2 innings out of the Harrisonburg starter. Hits and runs would begin to resurface again for both teams in the 5th. The Turks would pull a bit closer after a lead-off single and a hit batsmen would move to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. With one away in the inning, the Turks looked prime to tie the game when Austin Embler would shoot a single to center to drive in one. However, Villarreal then got a tapper back to the mound for out number two and would punch out the 3-hole hitting player for the Turks with 2 runners in scoring position. The Gens would cling to a 1 run lead after 4 and a half innings.
The Gens would answer right back in the bottom half of the 5th. Chase Cheek would work his way on by way of error. Ellington and the Turks would record 2 harmless outs after Cheek. Andrew Orzel (Wofford) would wear his league leading 16th pitch to make it first and second with 2 away. Jackson Webb (UCF) would load the bases with a walk to end Ellington’s night on the mound. Dalton Wingo would draw an RBI bases loaded walk to bring in the first run. He would be followed up with an RBI single by Joe Bellini (Cincinnati) but the inning would end on that play when the center fielder for the Turks threw out Webb trying to score. After 5 complete, the Generals would lead by a score of 5-2.
In the 6th, things would get a bit sticky. Villarreal would leave the game after only being able to record 1 out in the 6th. He left with the bases loaded and one out. Matt Nickles (Randolph-Macon) would come in and get the ground ball he was looking for. The Gens would turn a smooth 6-4-3 double play to escape with no damage done. The Generals would ride that momentum in the bottom of the 6th and would lengthen their lead by another run. Tyler Bielamowicz would single with one out in the inning. After a passed ball moved him to second, Chase Cheek came up with a double to left center to bring him in. The score would stand at 6-2.
The Turks would crack Nickles in the 7th inning and would touch him up for 2 innings. But when the duo of Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee) and Aron Solis (Texas Southern) came on, the Turks didn’t have an answer. In the bottom of the 7th, the Gens would add an insurance run for a little more breathing room. Dalton Wingo would work his way on base yet again in the inning. He walked with one out. After a passed ball, Joey Bellini moved him to third on the strength of a base hit to right. Bruno Teramoto was able to bring in Wingo by sending a slow groundball to the third baseman. The Turks weren’t able to turn the double play quick enough for the speedy Teramoto. The score would move to 7-4.
From there, Aron Solis came on in the 8th and threw 2 dominant innings to pick up his second save of the year.
Key Performers for Harrisonburg:
- Austin Embler: 2-5, RBI
- Andrew Llewellyn: 2-2, Sac Fly, RBI
- Paul Castillo: 1-4, SB, R
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Fred Villarreal (Houston): W (1-1), 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
- Aron Solis (Texas Southern): SV (2), 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
- Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston): 2-5, 2 R
- Chase Cheek (Duke): 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
- Alex Brait (FGCU): 1-3, BB, 2 RBI
- Bruno Teramoto (New Mexico St): 1-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, BB
The Generals (16-13) win their 3rd in a row and 6th out of their last 7. They’ll take their win streak on the road Wednesday night when they travel up to Bridgeforth Field in Winchester when they take on the Royals.
Generals Bats Quieted In Loss to Staunton
The Generals entered the game with Staunton on Thursday night with a 4-game win streak. The last loss that the Generals had suffered was at the hands of the Staunton Braves last Saturday. The Braves pitching staff would find a way to shut down the bats of the Gens this time, allowing only 6 hits and 2 runs.
The big blow to the Generals in the game was a 3-run 3rd inning by the Braves. The inning started with an error by the Generals. After being moved to second base on a swinging bunt up the first baseline, Dean Hermanson came through with an RBI single to centerfield to open the scoring. After recording another out, a 2-out walk would come back to haunt the Gens. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Brett Willett stepped in. A wild pitch would move both runners into scoring position, and Willett would deliver with a single to drive both in. The score after 3 innings was 3-0 in favor of Staunton.
In the top of the 4th, the Braves would be threatening again. They had runners on first and second with nobody out. However, when Eric Conner sent a 2-hopper to the third baseman Bruno Teramoto (New Mexico St.), he would step on third and deliver a strike to Jackson Webb (UCF) at second base. Webb would then make a quick transfer and throw to Andrew Orzel (Wofford) that was in time for the 5-4-3 TRIPLE PLAY!
Alex Webb (Chipola) would follow the inning ender up with a triple to right center field to start the inning. Dalton Wingo (UCF) would eventually bring him in with an RBI groundout, but that would be the only run in the inning. After 4 complete, the score was 3-1 Braves.
Both teams would score one run each in the 6th inning. Staunton’s came off of a solo home run by Brandon Hernandez. Waynesboro’s came on an error with 2 outs in the inning. This would lead to the final score with not much happening offensively in the last three innings of the game.
Key Performers for Staunton:
- Evan Flynn: W (1-1), 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
- Brandon Wilkes: SV (3), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- Brandon Hernandez: 1-3, HR, RBI, 2 R
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Andrew Orzel (Wofford): 1-2, 2B, BB, HBP
- Bryce Teodosio (Clemson): 1-2, BB, HBP, R
- Hunter Shuff (USC Aiken): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
- Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
The Generals (13-13) will be back in action one more time before they start their All-Star break. They’ll travel to Harrisonburg to take on the Turks on Friday in an important swing game for their record.
Gens Outlast Turks In Walk-Off Fashion
After what turned into a little bit of a chippy affair between the Generals and Turks, Alex Brait (FGCU) delivered a walk-off single to get the last laugh over the Turks.
Both starting pitchers had their good stuff working for the first half of the game on Monday night. Jake Brace for the Turks was the first to be cracked, while Nathan Schneider (St. Mary’s) was a bit more masterful in what was originally a pitcher’s dual. Schneider actually worked the first 4.2 innings in perfect fashion until he gave up back-to-back singles with 2 away in the inning. He was able to keep the shut-out in tact by stopping the threat there with one of his seven punch outs on the night.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Gens drew first blood by starting a rally with 2 outs in the inning. Joe Bellini (Cincinnati) started things off with his first hit of the summer since joining the Gens only 2 games prior to Monday night. The hit was a double down the right field line to get him into scoring position for the top of the lineup and the hot-hitting, Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss). Montenegro was able to hit one into the hole at shortstop, but it was fielded cleanly by the Turks. However, the long and off-balance throw across the diamond was a bit wide of the mark. This errant throw allowed Bellini to score from second on an infield single. The Gens kept the line moving on a single to right by Chase Cheek (Duke) that brought Montenegro to third for Andrew Orzel (Wofford). Orzel promptly singled for the Generals 4th straight hit in the inning to score Montenegro. The Generals now had a 2 run lead for Nathan Schneider.
In the 6th is where the in-game drama began. A 1-out single started the inning for the Turks. The runner then moved up to second on a pickoff attempt that trickled into the dugout. After Schneider got another Turk to go down swinging for out number 2, he gave up an infield single to Zach Little. Runners were now on the corners for Paul Castillo, the cleanup hitter for Harrisonburg. After a 2-0 pitch caught the corner, Schneider called his catcher Alex Brait (FGCU) out to the mound. Nate had noticed that the hitter Castillo was peaking at Brait’s pitch calling signs. When Brait confronted Castillo, things got a bit heated. Brait and Castillo had to be separated, and both coaches came out to calm their players down. Once things got settled down, the very next pitch to Castillo was hit into left field for an RBI single. When Castillo got too big of a round of first, he got caught in a run down that allowed Little to score on a single from 1st base to tie the game at 2.
The Generals would bounce right back, but the chippyness continued. Jackson Webb (UCF) started the hitting with a 1-out infield single. Tyler Trovinger (Oakland) then drilled another single to center to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Bellini would come up with his second hit to make it 3 straight singles, but this time, the centerfielder botched the ground ball rolling towards him to allow both runs to score and Bellini to move up to second. Gabe Montenegro then worked a walk off of the new pitcher Connor Roberts. With men on 1st and 2nd, Chase Cheek ripped a single to right that scored Bellini and moved Montenegro to 3rd. During Andrew Orzel’s at-bat, Cheek stole second to open up a base. After Orzel struck out, the next hitter was Alex Brait. It all seemed to be a perfect storm for Harrisonburg. The player that confronted a Turk was at the plate with a base open and 2 outs in the inning. On the very first pitch of the at-bat, Alex Brait was hit by a fastball. Home plate umpire Mike Mackey immediately ejected Roberts for what looked to be an intentional bean ball. With all this told, the Generals had scored 3 runs to put themselves on top, 5-2.
After a clean 7th by both teams, Schneider would be back on the mound to try for his 8th inning of work. After a lead-off walk in the inning, the Gens would turn to Hunter Shuff (USC Aiken) to try and strand Schneider’s runner. Unfortunately, Shuff had some issues. He walked the first batter he saw to put runners on 1st and 2nd and then gave up a single to load the bases. He was able to get an out on a fielder’s choice, but a run scored. The score was now 5-3 with runners on the corner and 1 out. Shuff then walked the next hitter to load the bases again. Luke Nussman got another run in on a sac fly, but there were now 2 outs and runners at first and second. Elian Merejo came up huge with a sharply hit single to right field that was able to score Little on a close play at the plate. The score was now tied after the Turks had their chance to hit in the 8th.
In the bottom half of the 8th, it looked like the Gens were destined to score when they loaded the bases with nobody out. Harrisonburg turned to Cade Bullinger to try and get them out of a tough mess. He did just that with a strikeout, a pop-up in the infield, and a ground ball to third base to not allow a run. Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee) came on to try and hold off the Turks to give his offense a chance to win it in a walk-off. He did just that by working 2 perfect innings in the top of the 9th and 10th.
In the 10th the Generals would have to try and figure out Bullinger, who was looking dominant. But after the lead-off double by Gabe Montenegro down the left field line, Bullinger’s job would become much tougher. Cheek was the next batter and successfully sacrificed himself to move Gabe to 3rd. The Turks chose to intentionally walk Andrew Orzel to get to the controversial figurehead of the night, Alex Brait. On a 1-2 count, Brait was able to put good wood onto a fastball to single to left to end the ball game. The Generals had walked it off in the 10th to win 6-5 for their second straight win.
Key Performers for Harrisonburg:
- Elian Merejo: 3-4, 2B, RBI
- Zach Little: 1-5, SB, RBI, 2 R
- Cade Bullinger: L (0-1), 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 IBB, 3 K
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Alex Brait (FGCU): 3-5, Walk-Off RBI
- Chase Cheek (Duke): 3-5, 2B, SB, RBI
- Nate Schneider (St. Mary’s): ND, 7+ IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
- Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee): W (2-0), 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss): 3-5, 2B, 2 R
The Generals (11-12) will try to get back to the .500 mark with their game at Rebel Park Tuesday night when they take on New Market. The game is slated for 7:30. A win would make 3 in a row for the Generals.
Royals Surge In Late Innings To Post Comeback Win Over Gens
The Generals were up 4-1 after 6 complete innings and seemed to be in control. However, the Royals were able to get to General starting pitcher Evan Gillespie (Faulkner) to tie the game, and eventually go on to win.
In the very first inning, the Royals were able to score on a fielder’s choice ground out. Gillespie did a nice job limiting them to 1 run. In the bottom of the first, Winchester got the first two hitters out to start the inning. However after Chase Cheek (Duke) was hit by a pitch, he stole second and moved up to third on an errant throw. Andrew Orzel (Wofford) was able to single through the left side to bring in Cheek. After 1 complete inning, the score was tied 1-1.
In the bottom of the second, the Gens put up 3 runs all with 2 outs. Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss) singled to center to bring in 2 runs and to continue his hot streak. After a Royal error that moved Gabe to third, Chase Cheek singled to right field for the third run of the inning. The score was 4-1 and would stay that way until the 7th.
In the 7th inning, Winchester started with a lead off single. Gillespie was still in the game and had been mostly dominant after the rocky start. After a strikeout, the Royals added another single to bring the tying run to the plate. Gillespie was able to get another strikeout for the second out of the inning and all signs pointed to him getting out of the inning. Jordan Huntley from Winchester had been seeing the ball well, but Gillespie had him in a 1-2 count. But when Gillespie hung his changeup, Huntley deposited it over the left field fence to tie the game in the top of the 7th.
The Gens had no answers for Winchester’s bullpen in the 7th, 8th, and 9th. The Royals, on the other hand, would tack runs on in the 8th and 9th innings to provide insurance. In the 8th, the Royals scored 3 on 2 hits, 2 walks, a wild pitch and a General error. In the 9th, they tacked on one more for good measure by way of the sacrifice fly. That would bring the game to its final score of 8-4.
Key Performers for Winchester:
- Jordan Huntley: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, SB, BB, R
- Samyr Santos: 3-5, RBI, 2 R
- Trent Sidwell: SV (2), 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss): 2-5, SB, 2 RBI
- Chase Cheek (Duke): 1-3, BB, 2 SB, RBI, R
- Evan Gillespie (Faulkner): ND, 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
The Generals will look to bounce back Saturday night at home vs. the Staunton Braves.
Generals Take Down TomSox in “Relentless” Fashion
Wednesday night saw the Charlottesville TomSox come to Kate Collins Field on a good stretch of 4 wins in their last 5 games. The Generals were one of those wins earlier on in the week when they traveled to Charlottesville.
Head Coach John Jeanes (Chipola) called this victory one of the most relentless efforts he’s seen from the team all summer. Pitchers pitched their way out of jams, hitters came up with hits in key moments, and the defense was impeccable.
After the TomSox got runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out, Gens starter Matt Ellmyer (Wofford) worked two straight strikeouts. The hitter for Charlottesville, Max Bazin, then slashed a ball towards the right center gap that looked destined to be 2 RBIs on the play. However, new addition to the club Dylan Cloonan (Miami) had different ideas. He laid out, using full extension, to bring down the snow cone diving grab to end the inning.
The Generals would ride that momentum right into the bottom half of the 2nd inning. Alex Brait (FGCU) would lead things off with a single, only to be picked off during the next at bat. Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston) would officially start the rally with a walk. Dalton Wingo (UCF), Tyler Trovinger (Oakland), Bruno Teramoto (New Mexico St), and Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss) would connect on consecutive singles to drive in a total of 3 runs in the inning.
The TomSox got right back to business in the top of the 3rd with a leadoff double. He would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to tighten the score to 3-1. It was the first of 3 straight runs. The other runs came in the 5th. It started with another lead off hit for the TomSox and was followed up by an Anthony Lazar double off the top of the fence. Finally, Bazin was brought in to score later in the inning on an infield single. The TomSox had tied the score at 3.
The Gens would answer right away with a big inning in the bottom of the 5th. Gabe Montenegro started with a bunt single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Following a walk by Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary), Dylan Cloonan dropped down yet another bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. Andrew Orzel (Wofford) hit a deep sacrifice fly that allowed all three runners to tag up. Alex Brait followed up with another sac fly to deep right. That made the score 5-3 with a runner on third base and 2 outs. Tyler Bielamowicz drove in what ended up being the final run of the game.
The TomSox would threaten in the later innings by loading the bases twice, but could never get the big hit they needed in the game. Hunter Shuff (USC Aiken) would work a 1-2-3 ninth to finish off the game.
Key Performers for Charlottesville:
- Anthony Lazar: 2-5, 2B, RBI, R
- Jake Allen: 1-1, 2B, 2 BB, R
- Nick Oar: 1-4, RBI
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Bruno Teramoto (New Mexico St): 3-4, RBI
- Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss): 3-4, RBI, SB
- Tyler Trovinger (Oakland): 2-4, RBI, R
- Aron Solis (Texas Southern): W (1-0), 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
The Generals will look for their 3rd straight win when they travel to Covington on Thursday to take on the Lumberjacks at 7 PM
Comeback Victory Over Harrisonburg Snaps 3-Game Skid
The Waynesboro Generals found themselves in familiar territory Tuesday night at Kate Collins Field. Through 3 and ½ innings, the Gens had the same amount of hits, but were trailing on the scoreboard 3-0. But this time things proved to be a good kind of different as the game went on.
Harrisonburg had scored two in the top of the second after Nick Parr (Oakland) had recorded the first two outs of the inning. The Turks came up with a single to right, a walk, an RBI single, and then the sacrifice the runner on first play came into effect. There were runners on first and third. The runner from first steals second. When the throw from the catcher goes to second base, the runner from first stops in his tracks. This allows time for the runner on third to attempt a steal of home. In this case, it worked successfully for Harrisonburg. After the steal of home, the score was 2-0 in favor of Harrisonburg.
The Turks would score their 3rd unanswered run in the top of the 4th after once again recording the first two outs of the inning. A 2-out hit-by-pitch, a walk, and an RBI single was enough for the Turks to make the score 3-0.
The Gens had been hitting just as much as the Turks, but hadn’t gotten the key hit…. Until the bottom of the 4th. Dalton Wingo (UCF) started things off with a double to right center. Alex Brait (FGCU) drilled a triple into the right center gap right after. Two pitches later and Tyler Trovinger (Oakland) hit an RBI groundout to bring in Brait and tighten the score to 3-2.
In the middle innings, things got a little quiet with 4 half innings in a row of no scoring. In the top of the 7th, the Turks were able to lengthen their lead to 4-2 on the strength of back-to-back singles by Austin Embler and Zach Little, followed by another single by Elian Merejo.
However in the bottom of the 7th, the Gens were able to put together one of their most impressive innings all year. It started with a 1-out single by Jackson Webb (UCF) followed by another single by Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston). During the next at-bat, the Gens performed a double steal with Webb and Bielo. Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary) hit the ball to the shortstop to bring in Webb and move Bielo to third with the score now sitting at 4-3. The Gens would turn to Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss) for the big two-out hit that they had been searching for what felt like all year. On a 1-0 count, Montenegro scorched a single into centerfield to tie the score at 4. The Gens weren’t quite finished yet. Andrew Orzel (Wofford) talked about his prior at-bat in an interview after the game. He said the pitcher threw him a fastball in a good spot to hit, but he was late. He vowed that if he threw him another pitch like that, he would make him pay for it. He did just that on the first pitch of the at-bat. Orzel unloaded on an absolute no-doubter to deep left field to take the lead in the bottom of the 7th 6-4.
A leadoff walk in the top of the 8th would come around to score on 3 wild pitches and would make things a little more interesting. Starting the top of the 9th, the score was 6-5 and Pat O’Shea (St Mary’s) was on for the save. After getting the first 2 Turks out, he allowed a two out single and a walk to put the tying run on second and the go-ahead run on first. Fortunately for the Gens, he got a ground ball to second base to pick up his first save of the year. The win helped Waynesboro snap a 3 game skid.
Key Performers for Harrisonburg:
- Caleb Walls: 2-4
- Austin Embler: 2-5
- Zach Little: 3-5
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Andrew Orzel (Wofford): 3-4, 2B, Go-Ahead 2-R Homer
- Dalton Wingo (UCF): 2-4, 2 2B, R
- Jackson Webb (UCF): 2-3, R
- Pat O’Shea (St Mary’s): SV (1), 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 1 K
The Gens will look to build on Tuesday night’s victory when the Charlottesville TomSox come to town Wednesday night at 7 pm.
Evan Gillespie’s Outing Spoiled in Loss to Cannons
Gillespie held the Cannons scoreless through 6 full innings Sunday night.
Evan Gillespie (Faulkner) shined on Sunday night against the Purcellville Cannons. However, a lack of run support ended up costing the Generals late in the game.
Both Gillespie and Will Guay, the starting pitcher for Purcellville, pitched well in what proved to be pitchers dual. The first run of the game came in the bottom of the 3rd for the Generals. Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary) worked a one out walk, Tanner Thomas (Virginia Tech) sharply singled, and Andrew Orzel (Wofford) was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the clean-up hitter Chase Cheek (Duke). Cheek was first pitch swinging and hit a sinking line drive to left. Purcellville’s left fielder made a nice sliding catch but wasn’t able to throw out a speedy Kyle Wrighte on the sacrifice fly. The Generals would end up getting two more runners in scoring position, but failed to cash in. That seemed to be a theme throughout the night. However at this point, the Gens led 1-0.
Gillespie didn’t give up a hit until the top of the 4th, but still faced the minimum after he was able to pick the runner off at first base. He managed to get his 4th straight inning with only facing 3 batters. He had thrown 6 scoreless innings when he toed the rubber in the 7th. He gave up a leadoff walk that was sacrifice bunted to second. The runner then managed to steal third to set up Kam Armstrong for a sacrifice fly. The score after 7 was 1-1.
After a 3 up 3 down inning in the bottom of the 7th for the Generals, Hunter Shuff (USC Aiken) entered the ball game. After getting the first out, a swinging bunt started things off. After a fielder’s choice by Purcellville’s leadoff hitter Kenny Oyama, Christian Garabedian stepped in to face Shuff. Oyama would eventually steal second to put himself in scoring position. 3 pitches later, Garabedian smoked a ball down the left field line to plate the go ahead run in the top of the 8th.
The Generals would mount a small rally in the bottom of the 9th, only to fall a bit short. The final score in the ball game was 2-1
Key Performers for Purcellville:
- Christian Garabedian: 1-4, 2B, RBI
- Will Guay: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
- Anthony Zimmerman: SV (2), 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Evan Gillespie (Faulkner): 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
- Tanner Thomas (Virginia Tech): 3-5
- Tyler Trovinger (Oakland): 2-4
The Generals will travel to CVille Weekly Ballpark to take on the Charlottesville TomSox on Monday night. Nathan Schneider (St. Mary’s) will be on the mound.
Late Saturday Night Contest Sees Braves Over Gens
In a ball game that didn’t get started until 8:30 due to wet field conditions, the Braves outlasted the Generals in a tightly contested Saturday night showdown.
Both teams started their offensive nights with runs in the first frame. In the top of the first, Cole Swiger singled to center to start the night for Staunton. After a walk to the next hitter, Staunton elected to play small ball early on and sacrifice the runners to second and third with one out. After a Braves strike out, Will Simoneit hit an infield single to the hole at shortstop to bring in the first run of the game.
The Generals would answer right back. Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss) singled to start the night. Bruno Teramoto (New Mexico St) drew a walk to create a carbon copy of the top half of the inning. Chase Cheek (Duke) then went to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but placed it so perfectly that he was able to beat the throw for a bunt single. Andrew Orzel (Wofford) was able to bring in the first General run by taking a pitch off his back for an RBI hit-by-pitch. The bases were still loaded with nobody out when the next hitter rolled into a double play. It did, however, give the Generals the lead at 2-1.
Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston) was the starter for the Generals on Saturday night. After giving up a run in the first, he was able to settle in a bit. With 4 hits and 2 walks, he did have to pitch himself out of some jams, but was able to do so masterfully with 6 strikeouts. It was after his 5 innings were up that trouble set in for the Generals. With the new pitcher in the game, the Braves struck for runs in each of the next 3 innings.
In the 6th, the Braves were able to work their first two on by a walk and HBP. They decided to go with the small ball route again and laid down a sacrifice bunt. Justin Beyer (Wagner) was the new pitcher in the game and tried to force a throw into third base, but ended up throwing the ball into left field, allowing a run to score and runners to second and third. After Beyer walked the next hitter, his night was done. The left-handed Bryan Wilcox (FGCU) came into the ball game to try and get out of the jam. He did just that by getting a shallow fly ball to left for out number one and a 4-6-3 double play for outs 2 and 3 to not allow another run to score. The score was now tied at 2-2.
Unfortunately, the 7th didn’t go as smoothly for Wilcox. After a leadoff single, the runner came all the way around to score on a double into the left field gap. Wilcox managed to strike out the next hitter, but that would be the end of his night. He would give way to Matt Nickles (Randolph-Macon). Nickles wouldn’t be able to strand Wilcox’s last runner as he surrendered a two-out RBI single to Brycen Thomas. The score after 7 complete was 4-2.
In the 8th, there was more of the same. A leadoff single started things out for the Braves. Nickles then got what looked like a 6-4-3 double play ball to delete the runner from first. Umpires came together and ruled that the throw pulled the first baseman from the bag. Cole Swiger would make the Gens pay for the mistake by ripping a double into the left center gap for an RBI. After a groundout to second base to move Swiger to third, he came in to score on a wild pitch. That put the Braves on top by 4 and they were never threatened in the late innings.
The Generals were only able to muster 6 hits total in the game. This marks the 8th time in 14 games that the Gens were held to 4 runs or less.
Key Performers for Staunton:
- Cole Swiger: 4-5, RBI 2B, 2 R
- Eric Conner: 1-4, RBI 2B, R
- Braves Bullpen: 4.1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K.
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston): ND, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
- Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss): 2-4, R
- Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary): 2-4, 2B
The Generals will have to sleep fast as they take on the Purcellville Cannons at home on Sunday night at 7 PM at Kate Collins Field.
