SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke scored off a wild pitch to cap a thrilling, 8-7 victory in its home-opener at Kiwanis Field Monday afternoon. The Maroons improve to 2-0 while the Knights dropped their first game of the year, slipping to 3-1.

 

The Maroons are off to a 2-0 start for the first time in program-history.   Roanoke earned a hard fought win against a Southern Virginia team that has swept ODAC-school Guilford (14-4, 9-4) and defeated in-state foe Averett (5-4). The Knights allowed the most runs in their young season as RC evened the series at 4-4, winning four of the last five meetings.

 

Down 2-0, Roanoke put up four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take its first lead of the game. Jacob Clifton led off with a single followed by Mark Manthe's double to put runners on second and third with no outs. They both scored after Robbie Scott (Mt. Kisco, NY, Fox Lane) reached on an error and Matt Wallman (Forest, VA, Jefferson Forest) single to tie the contest.

 

Dalton Lipes (Buchanan, VA, James River)RBI-single gave the Maroons the lead and Caylen Baire (St. Albans, WV, St. Albans) forced a walk with bases loaded to bring home Jeremy Seipp (Arlington, VA, Washington & Lee) to give them a two-run advantage.

 

After SVU scored in the sixth to cut the Maroon lead in half, but Manthe's solo shot to left gave his team a 5-3 lead against the Knights. The same situation occurred in the eighth as both teams scored a run to make the score, 6-4 heading into the ninth.

 

In the top of the final inning, the bullpen allowed three runs as Southern Virginia regained the lead, 7-6. It appeared bleak for the Maroons as they went into the bottom of the ninth needing a score to keep the game alive.

 

With one out, Scott and Wallman singled to put runners on first and second. Seipp came through with a double over the leftfielder's head to bring in the tying run and put both runners in scoring position.

 

With two outs facing a 1-1 count, Wallman scored off a wild pitch and slid head first into home plate to give his team the win.

 

Manthe led the Maroons going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a solo home run. Jacob Clifton (Vinton, VA, William Byrd) and Wallman each went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

 

Joseph Peery (Troy, VA, Monticello) (1-0) earned the win in relief, but Michael Haslam (Collegeville, PA, Springfield) and John Terlesky (Charlottesville, VA , Albermarle) put together a solid pitching performance, allowing two earned runs and striking out a combined three batters.

 

The men will return to Kiwanis Field on Wednesday, Feb. 16 to take on Ferrum College in a rematch of the Maroons season-opener on Feb. 8. Roanoke won, 10-8 at Panther Field to win it's fourth-straight over their in-state rival. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.