SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke broke a 5-5 game with a six-run seventh inning and held on to win, 11-5 against New England College at Kiwanis Field Monday evening. The Maroons improve to 7-10 on the year, while the Pilgrims drop to 2-1.

 

Jacob McMillan (Vinton, VA, William Byrd) went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Jacob Clifton (Vinton, VA, William Byrd) went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs on the night. Mark Manthe (Blacksburg, VA, Blacksburg) and Dalton Lipes (Buchanan, VA, James River) each totaled two hits, including a double, along with two runs and two RBI.

 

Roanoke scored in the second and third innings to jump out to a 4-0 lead. New England College got on the board in the fifth but took the lead in the top of the sixth with a four-run inning to make it, 5-4.

 

Scott Thurston (Glen Allen, VA, J.R. Tucker) scored an unearned run to tie the contest in the bottom of the sixth before the Maroons seventh-inning scoring barrage. It was highlighted by Clifton's three-run blast to left center that gave the Maroons some insurance runs.  Manthe's two-RBI single to left center put Roanoke on top for good.

 

McMillian got the starting nod from head coach Larry Wood and went 5.1 innings while totaling a season-best nine strikeouts. Joseph Peery (Troy, VA, Monticello) (3-1) earned the win in relief, going 1.2 innings before senior captain John Terlesky (Charlottesville, VA , Albermarle) threw the final two innings to close the game, striking out two.

 

Byrd led the Pilgrims at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Caputo finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

 

Small (0-1) took the loss for NEC, going four innings with four strikeouts and allowing seven runs (five earned) and eight hits. Johnson started for the Pilgrims and struck out for Maroon batters in three innings while giving up four runs.