ASHLAND, Va. - Senior James Walsh (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) allowed one run in six innings and senior Nick Maiolo (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) drove in four as sixth-ranked Randolph-Macon used a seven-run first to outscore Roanoke 16-9 in ODAC action Saturday afternoon on Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.
Walsh gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out two for the Yellow Jackets (25-5-1, 11-5 ODAC). He raised his record to 8-0.
The Yellow Jackets erupted for seven in the bottom of the first to take control against the Maroons (20-14, 8-8 ODAC). With one away, senior Christian Sanderson (Lynchburg, Va./Jefferson Forest) was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a base hit to right by senior Travis Lodge (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca). Both runners scored on a double down the left field line by Maiolo. Senior Mitchell Keeler (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) drew a walk before sophomore Cole Migliorini (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) singled up the middle to drive in Maiolo to make it 3-0. A base hit by junior Herminio Azor (Fairfax, Va./Robinsin) loaded the bases before junior Jay Patti (Sparks, Md./Hereford) delivered a two-run single to push the lead to 5-0. Sophomore Rick Spiers (South Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) knocked in Azor with a base hit and Patti came home on an error to give R-MC a 7-0 advantage.
After RC plated one in the top of the sixth, the Yellow Jackets answered in the bottom of the frame. Maiolo drove in a run with a fielder's choice, Keeler added an RBI double and senior Michael Trentham (Midlothian, Va./James River) had a pinch-hit two-run single as R-MC pushed its lead to 11-1.
The Yellow Jackets added three in the seventh as Lodge was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Maiolo had an RBI single and Keeler launched a sacrifice fly to give the home team a 14-1 advantage.
R-MC put up to more in the eighth as junior Blake Saathoff (Catonsville, Md./Archbishop Spalding) was plunked with the bases full and Lodge had a sacrifice fly to make it 16-1. The Maroons tallied eight in the top of the ninth to make the final 16-9.
Lodge finished with three hits and two RBI, while Sanderson walked twice and scored three for R-MC.
Randolph-Macon and Roanoke complete their two-game series on Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m. on Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.