ASHLAND, Va. – Senior Mike Nickles (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) capped a four-run fifth with a three-run homer as the No. 12 Randolph-Macon baseball team defeated William Peace 11-3 on Tuesday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: #12 Randolph-Macon 11, William Peace 3
Site/Venue: Ashland, Va./Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park
Records: R-MC 13-3, WPU 12-12
How It Happened:
- The Pacers put up one in the top of the first before the Yellow Jackets answered in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Brooks Mazey (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by sophomore Ethan Iannuzzi (Chesterfield, Va./Cosby) to level the score at 1-1.
- WPU used a two-out rally to plate a pair in the top of the third to take a 3-1 advantage.
- The R-MC offense would explode in the fifth. Freshman Grayson Bush (Charlottesville, Va./Montecello) had a bunt single and moved to second on an errant throw to first. Senior Ryan Duphorn (Erial, N.J./Paul VI) followed with a bunt single and advanced Bush to third. Mazey laid down a bunt single that brought home Bush to make it 3-2. Nickles belted a long homer to right, his second of the season, to give the Yellow Jackets a 5-3 lead.
- R-MC would put up another crooked number in the sixth. Bush had a one-out single and went to third when Duphorn reached on an error. Mazey grounded out to bring in Bush. Following a two-out walk to Nickles, senior Kevin Mooney (Williamsburg, Va./Jamestown) tripled to right center to drive in two. A wild pitch brought in Mooney to make it 9-3. Iannuzzi was hit by a pitch and scored on a wild pitch as the score moved to 10-3.
- The Yellow Jackets added their final run in the eighth as senior Reece Yeargain (Chester, Va./Benedictine) had a pinch-hit homer to lead off the eighth, his third of the season, to make the final 11-3.
By The Numbers
- Nickles went 1 for 4 with two runs and three RBI.
- Mazey was 1 for 4 with two runs and two RBI.
- Bush had two hits and two runs.
- Junior J.T. Fitzpatrick (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) went 3 for 4 with two doubles.
- Senior RJ Payne (Barboursville, Va./William Monroe) earned the win, going 1.1 hitless innings with one walk and two strikeouts to even his record at 1-1.
For The Record
- R-MC extended its win streak to nine.
- The Yellow Jackets have scored in double figures in seven of their past eight games.
- Duphorn has reached base in all 16 games this season.
- Iannuzzi has reached base in all 15 games in which he has played.
- Iannuzzi extended his hit streak to eight games, the longest streak for the Yellow Jackets this season.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will travel to Hampden-Sydney on Wednesday, April 7 for a 4 p.m. ODAC contest.