Randolph-Macon Holds Off Baseball's Late Rally

Randolph-Macon Holds Off Baseball's Late Rally

Randolph-Macon 10, Penn State Harrisburg 6

 

Harrisburg Lineup

1. Smith cf, 2. McSorley ss, 3. Williams lf, 4. Van Houten dh, 5. Koroneos 1b, 6. Aug c, 7. Winters rf, 8. Parks 3b, 9. Rinehimer 2b, Gettys p

 

RMC Lineup

1. Duphorn cf, 2. Gannett 2b, 3. M. Nickles 3b, 4. Yeargain dh, 5. S. Nickles rf, 6. Grinde 1b, 7. Pietruszynski lf, 8. Selden c, 9. Evans ss, Zubovich p

 

How It Happened

Penn State Harrisburg played catch up for most of the day and made a late charge but ultimately stranded too many runners to complete the comeback in a 10-6 loss at Randolph-Macon on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 23.

 

Tyler Aug had a nice outing, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while Bret Williams finished 2-for-4 and hit his first home run of the young season. Zach Gettys got the start on the bump and Nick Fitzgerald threw four solid innings to close out the game, allowing no earned runs during his relief appearance.

 

The Lions (2-1) were the victims of some early bad luck as a batter's interference call negated a stolen base and took a runner out of scoring position in the top of the first inning. Randolph-Macon (7-1) took advantage, plating one run in the bottom of the frame and tacking on two more in the third.

 

The Blue & White got things going in the top of the fourth, as Williams led off with an infield single and Zachary Koroneos moved him along with a single through the right side. A wild pitch advanced both runners and Aug drove in Williams with a sacrifice fly before an RMC error allowed Koroneos to score and cut the deficit to one run.

 

The Yellow Jackets got one back in the bottom of the fourth but visitors drew to within 4-3 in the fifth when a Ryan McSorley groundout pushed Robbie Skinner across.

 

The bottom of the fifth proved a setback for the Lions' comeback chances, as RMC took advantage of two Penn State Harrisburg errors and two walks and used five hits to score five runs and extend the lead to 9-3.

 

Travis Van Houten led off the sixth with a triple to right center field and Aug drove him in with a ground rule double two at-bats later. Matt Parks made it a crooked number with a two-out single through the left side that plated Aug to draw the Lions to within four runs through five and half stanzas.

 

Randolph-Macon took advantage of another Blue & White error and scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh and the Lions came away empty in the top of the eighth when they stranded three runners despite loading the bases with less than two outs.

 

Williams showed off his power with a solo homer to lead off the top of the ninth and Penn State Harrisburg again loaded the bases with only one away but like they did in the previous inning, the Blue & White were unable to push any of the runners across before the home team worked out of the jam.

 

At the Plate

- The Lions registered four extra-base hits, compared to just one for Randolph-Macon.

- Tyler Aug went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and a walk.

- Bret Williams was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and a walk.

- Matt Parks finished 2-for-4, doubled and drove in a run.

- Zachary Koroneos also had a multi-hit day and Travis Van Houten registered a triple.

- Ryan Duphorn led the way for the Yellow Jackets, going 2-for-3 with four runs scored, two RBI and a pair of walks.

 

On the Mound

- Zach Gettys got the start for Penn State Harrisburg and went 2.2 innings. He allowed three runs and struck out three batters.

- Michael De Leon made a relief appearance, going 1.1 innings, surrendering five runs and recording two strikeouts.

- Nick Fitzgerald threw the final four frames, allowing just two hits and two walks and allowing no earned runs to go along with a pair of strikeouts.

- Starter Michael Zubovich earned the win for RMC, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks in five innings thrown.

- Reliever Hayden Moore picked up the save for the Yellow Jackets.

 

Around the Diamond

- The Blue & White committed four errors on the day, compared to one from Randolph-Macon.

- The Yellow Jackets stole three bases.

- Outfielders Chase Smith, Bret Williams and Casey Winters combined for 10 putouts.

- Ryan McSorley had two assists from his shortstop position.

 

Who's Next?

The Lions return to action when they travel to Hood for a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 29. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. 

 

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