Posted: Mar 20, 2014
After the bases were loaded in the first inning after a walk and two errors, Roanoke's Jacob Clifton hit a two RBI single, scoring Will Black and Devin Cassity. This started an inning that seemed to continue to roll in Roanoke's favor. Will Decker hit a sacrifice fly to score Collier Donald, while Cam Cassady hit an RBI single, bringing Clifton to score. By the time Cassity returned to the plate for his second at-bat of the evening, the bases were loaded once again. Cassity hit a three RBI double, putting the Maroons ahead 7-0. Will Black came up after a pitching change, and knocked in Cassity with a double as Roanoke put up eight runs in the top of the first inning.
The Panthers started to chip away at the early deficit, starting in the bottom of the first. Adam Duncan reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Justin Cox to score on the play. In the bottom of the second inning, Jeffery Swoope hit an RBI infield single, allowing Clay Massie to score on the play. The Panthers put up three more runs in the bottom of the third inning, spurred by a fielder's choice and two RBI doubles.
Roanoke got back to scoring in the top of the fourth, as Clark Crutchfield hit an RBI sacrifice fly ball, scoring Clifton on the play. In the top of the fifth, Boonewell Hagy scored on a fielder's choice during Will Black's at-bat. Collier Donald also went on to hit an RBI single to right field, bringing Black back around to home. After five innings, Roanoke led 11-5.
The Maroons scored their final four runs in the top of the seventh. Will Black hit an RBI single, plating Boonewell Hagy. Shortly after, the bases were loaded again, this time for Clifton who hit a three RBI double to left field, scoring Donald, Black and Danny Creel. Roanoke held off the panthers for the remaining two innings, as the Maroons picked up the 15-5 victory at Virginia Tech.
The Maroons were led in hitting by Jacob Clifton who went 4-6 on the night, with two runs scored and a team high five RBIs. Seven other Maroons finished the night with two hits each, while Boonewell Hagy and Will Black led the team with three runs scored each. The Maroons played with the "pitch-by-committee" strategy on the evening, with nine different pitchers seeing the mound. Rawlings Cumbea was credited with the win, giving up one run off no hits. Michael Mares and Zach Hamilton each finished with a team high two strikeouts in the game.
The Panthers were held to just six hits on the day, with Clay Massie having a team high two hits on the night. Five different players crossed the plate for Ferrum, while Adam Duncan led the team in RBIs with two. Ferrum also pitched nine different players in the game, with Easton Riggs being tabbed with the loss. He gave up eight runs off four hits in two-thirds of an inning pitched.
The Maroons return to action on Saturday, March 22nd as they play host to Washington and Lee at Kiwanis Field. The first pitch of the double header is scheduled for 12:00 PM.
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