Posted: Apr 20, 2014
The Maroons 16 wins in the season ties the second most single-season wins by a Maroon club, matching the 2004 and 2012 seasons. Roanoke left a mark in the ODAC statistical ranks in 2014. Jacob Clifton ranked fifth in the ODAC in slugging percentage with a mark of .653. He also ranks fourth in the conference in triples, legging out three over the course of the season. Clifton also has the fifth most home runs in the conference with six. Also dangerous on the base paths was Devin Cassity, who currently leads the ODAC in stolen bases with 19.
Roanoke got on the board first in the game on Sunday, scoring in the top of the first inning. Heads-up base running by Will Black, gave Roanoke a 1-0 lead as he advanced on a Lynchburg error. Three scoreless innings went by for both teams, until Back hit an RBI single up the middle, scorring Bradley Mattox on the play. With the bases loaded, Kevin Oakey hit a three RBI double to the outfield, giving Roanoke a 5-0 lead through five innings.
Lynchburg came charging in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, the Hornets rattled off six runs off five hits, to take a 6-5 lead. Evans started the steak with a two RBI double to right field. The next three batters racked up RBI hits, finishing with Arrowood hitting an RBI single to left, scoring Tomasulo to claim the lead.
Lynchburg's lead was short lived as Roanoke came up in the top of the seventh with a rally of its own. Black sent off a sacrifice fly ball to center field, as Lucas Nowlin tied the game. Roanoke reclaimed the lead as Jacob Clifton hit an RBI single to right field, bringing around Mattox for the second time in the game.
Roanoke pitching went three-up three-down in the bottom of the eighth, however Lynchburg had one last stand in the bottom of the ninth. Tomasulo hit an RBI single to left field, for the tying run of the game. Then with two outs, starting with an 0-2 count, Parsons hit the 12th pitch of the at-bat to single to right field, scoring Tomasulo and capturing the 8-7 victory for Lynchburg.
The Maroons were led in hitting by Jacob Clifton, who went 3-5 on the day, tallying one run scored and one RBI. Will Black finished with 2-4 day, scoring two runs, while tallying two RBIs. Kevin Oakey finished 2-4 with three RBIs. Austin Gregory, (4-2) was tabbed with the loss, giving up five runs off five hits.
The Hornets finished with 11 hits, led by Dustin Arrowood, who went 3-5 on the afternoon. Lincoln Evans, Joe Rogers and Jake Rob Tomasulo all notched two RBIs in the game, while Tomasulo led the team with two runs scored. Charlie Thieringer (2-0) picked up the win in 1.2 innings pitched, striking out one.
Lynchburg moves on to play in the 2014 ODAC Baseball Tournament, as the #5 seed, facing off against Randolph-Macon on Thursday.
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