Roanoke Falls In ODAC play

action photo of RC baseball pitcher Brandon Hill
Roanoke falls to W&L on the road

The Basics

Game 1:
Score: Roanoke 6 | Washington and Lee 7
Records: Maroons 11-5 / 4-2 ODAC | Generals 2-7 / 2-7 ODAC
Location: Lexington, Va.

The Lead: A trip to Lexington for the Roanoke baseball team was on the schedule for Saturday afternoon. The Maroons would jump out to a 3-0 lead over the Generals before W&L rallied to take a 5-3 advantage. RC would tie it up but a pair of Washington and Lee runs would withstand a late Roanoke rally as W&L took the opener 7-6. Game two would also see the Maroons score first, but seven unanswered by the home team would allow W&L to pull away and hold on for the 11-6 win.

How it Happened:

  • Roanoke would jump on their hosts in the top of the first when Mason Staz reached on an error and Carter Plunkett singled. The duo would steal second and third to set the table for a Conner Butler, 2RBI, single.
  • In the third, Will Merriken singled and advanced on a wild pitch ahead of another Butler RBI single.
  • However, Washington and Lee got solo runs in the third and fourth before taking the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
  • In the top of the seventh, RC would start with three consecutive singles to load the bases. Carson McCusker reached on a fielding error, getting thrown out at second base, but not before tying the game at 5-5.
  • The Generals would add a pair in the bottom half to regain their two-run advantage.
  • One inning later, Gavin Kandrick scored on a Staz sac fly to cut the deficit to one. The top of the ninth would see Butler double and McCusker walk to set the table for a rally. But a double play and fly out would see the Generals hold on for the 7-6 ODAC win.
  • Butler went 4-5 with three RBI with Plunkett and Merriken each going 2-5 and McCusker going 2-4.

 

Game 2:
Score: Roanoke 6 | Washington and Lee 11
Records: Maroons 11-6 / 4-3 ODAC | Generals 3-7 / 3-7 ODAC
Location: Lexington, Va.

How it Happened:

  • Will Smith singled and Butler reached on a fielder's choice. After advancing on an error, Merriken grounded out to score Smith in the top of the first.
  • Two W&L runs in the second and five more in the fourth would see the Maroons down 7-1.
  • Top of the fifth would see a rally. Butler walked, Plunkett singled, and Merriken walked to load the bases. PK Cocolis drove in Butler then Jonny Wall singled up the middle for two more runs, making it 7-4.
  • Two innings later, Staz walked, Wall and Tyler De Meo singled to load the bases once again. Cale Agee walked to add one before a Smith sac fly made it 7-6. However the Maroons would not score again as W&L pulled away late for the 11-6 win.
  • Wall was 3-5 and De Meo went 2-2 while Agee finished 2-3. Brandon Hill got the start, giving up a pair of runs and striking out four.

Up Next: Roanoke travels to Guilford on Tuesday for a single game with the Quakers on Tuesday afternoon.