LYNCHBURG, Va. – Seven pitchers combined to hold the Hornets to two runs as the Randolph-Macon baseball team posted a 5-2 ODAC victory at No. 17 Lynchburg on Thursday afternoon.

The Basics

Score: Randolph-Macon 5, #17 Lynchburg 2

Venue: James C. Fox Field

Records: RMC 17-6, 9-2 ODAC; LYN 17-8, 7-4 ODAC

How It Happened:

• The Hornets had six hits over the first three innings but stranded four and managed just one run in the bottom of the first. In the second, a Lynchburg runner attempted to score from second on a single to center. Freshman Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) hit sophomore second baseman Jordan Hill (Norfolk, Va./Granby) with his throw, and the relay to junior catcher Chaz Harvey (Charlottesville, Va./The Miller School) nailed the runner at the plate to keep it a 1-0 contest.
• The Yellow Jackets got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) was hit by a pitch to start the inning and went to third on a double by senior Myles Webb (Norfolk, Va./Granby). With one away, freshman Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) delivered a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Schmitt and level the score at 1-1.
• Junior Bere Bauers (Phoenixville, Pa./Devon Prep) allowed one run over four innings with six hits, one walk and two strikeouts to even his record at 1-1.
• RMC would take its first lead in the fifth. Hill led off with a single. Senior Grayson Bush (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) reached on a fielder's choice and Hill went to third on a throwing error. Freshman Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) walked to load the bases. Quici sent a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Hill to make it 2-1.
• Senior Jacob Lawler (Broad Run, Va./Battlefield) tossed a perfect fifth with two groundouts and one flyout.
• Sophomore William Wian (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) entered with two on and two out in the sixth and coaxed a flyout to thwart the rally.
• The Yellow Jackets added an insurance run in the seventh. Bush led off with a single, moved to second on a base hit by Bowles, advanced to third when Quici reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a groundout by Schmitt as the advantage grew to 3-1.
• Sophomore Connor McAuley (Haymarket, Va./Highland) took the mound with two on and none out in the bottom of the seventh. He got a pair of strikeouts before a base hit pulled Lynchburg within one at 3-2. McAuley fanned one more to strand Hornets on the corners and keep the Yellow Jackets on top.
• RMC put together a two-out rally in the eighth. Senior Matt Myers (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley) drew a two-out walk, went to second on a singly by Hill and scored on a base hit up the middle by Bush to give the Yellow Jackets a 4-2 edge. A single by Bowles brought home Hill to extend the lead to 5-2.
• The Hornets put two on with one away in the bottom of the eighth, but McAuley rolled a double play to end the inning.
• Junior Sam Slevin (Virginia Beach, Va./Frank Cox) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save.

By The Numbers

• The Yellow Jackets have defeated nationally-ranked teams in each of their past two games. RMC topped #22 North Carolina Wesleyan 12-3 on Tuesday.
• RMC has won nine of its past 10 games.
• The Yellow Jackets are 15-0 when leading after seven innings and 16-0 when leading after eight.
• RMC is 8-0 when opponents score three runs or less. Yellow Jacket hurlers have allowed four earned runs in their past 27 innings.
• The lower third of the order of Hill, Bush and Bowles combined to go 6 for 11 with three runs and two RBI.
• Hill had two hits and two runs.
• Bush went 2 for 4 with one run and one RBI.
• Bowles was 2 for 3 with a walk and one RBI.
• Quici had a sacrifice fly and a walk. He has reached base in 22 straight games.
• Wernoski went 1 for 4 with one RBI. He has reached base in 20 straight games.
• Webb went 1 for 5 and extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
• The Hornets stranded 11 base runners.
• RMC is 9-2 in ODAC play, tied with Roanoke for first place.

Up Next

RMC will return to Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park on Saturday, April 6, for a noon ODAC doubleheader with Bridgewater.