ASHLAND, Va. – Senior Christian Sanderson (Lynchburg, Va./Jefferson Forest) capped a 4-for-4 day by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th to force in the game-winning run as the No. 16 Randolph-Macon baseball team nipped Guilford 2-1 on Saturday afternoon on Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park in the ODAC opener for both teams.
Sanderson had singles in the third and ninth innings along with doubles in the fifth and seventh for the Yellow Jackets (11-0, 1-0 ODAC). R-MC continues its program-record run of consecutive victories to start a season.
Both starting pitchers were fantastic. Parks Smithey went 9.0 innings for GC with five hits, one run, six walks and five strikeouts. Senior James Walsh (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) struck out 13, one away from his career high. In 8.1 innings, Walsh allowed five hits and one walk. Sophomore Christian Cok (Chester, S.C./Lewisville) retired the final five hitters to raise his record to 2-0.
Senior Travis Lodge (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) led off the 10th with a single up the middle. With one away, sophomore Rick Spiers (South Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) had a base hit to center that advanced Lodge to third. Junior Stuart Brown (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) was intentionally walked to load the bases. Following a flyout to shallow right, Sanderson was plunked to bring home Lodge with the game-winner.
The game was scoreless after eight. The Quakers (8-5, 0-1 ODAC) used a leadoff double and an error to plate a run in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the frame, Brown drew a leadoff walk and was balked to second. With one away, Sanderson reached on a single to short. Freshman Jeffrey Butler (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) was hit by a pitch to load the bases before pinch-hitter Herminio Azor (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) reached on a fielder's choice, bringing Brown home with the tying run.
The Yellow Jackets had a chance to break the ice in the bottom of the sixth. Lodge drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by sophomore Cole Migliorini (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge). Spiers reached on a fielder's choice and Lodge moved to third on a throwing error. Brown lifted a sinking line drive to left that was close to dropping in, but the base umpire ruled that Nathan Fulbright made the catch. Lodge tagged up and came home. The relay throw was taken by third baseman Mitchell Stumpo, who walked over and touched third base. Instead of the plate umpire making the call, the base umpire ruled that Lodge had left early for an inning-ending double play to keep the game scoreless.
Lodge finished with two hits and a run for the Yellow Jackets.
Randolph-Macon and Guilford complete their two-game conference set on Sunday, March 6, at 1 p.m. on Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.