ASHLAND, Va. – In both contests of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader, it was the seventh innings that decided the games for Randolph-Macon baseball as the Yellow Jackets earned a pair of wins against The College of New Jersey. In the first game, the Yellow Jackets blasted out of a 3-3 tied with a four-run seventh inning, while in the nightcap, R-MC used six runs in the seventh inning to double-up the Lions.

The Basics

Score:

Game 1: Randolph-Macon 8, TCNJ 4
Game 2: Randolph-Macon 12, TCNJ 6

Location/Venue: Ashland, Va./Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park

Records: Randolph-Macon (10-1), TCNJ (0-2)

How It Happened – Game 1

• In the first inning, TCNJ was able to score a run on a pair of wild pitches to break the scoreless game.
• R-MC earned baserunners in each of the first three innings; but it wasn't until the third when the Yellow Jackets were able to bring runs across the plate. After TCNJ issued a trio of free trips, senior Shawn Nickles (Stafford, Va. / Colonial Forge) singled to right to bring seniors Ryan Duphorn (Erial, N.J. / Paul VI) and Daniel Wilkerson (Oxford, N.C. / Kerr-Vance Academy) home and the Yellow Jackets to a 2-1 lead.  
• R-MC tacked another on in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Mike Nickles (Stafford, Va. / Colonial Forge) hit a triple to right center with one out early in the inning. He would be retired on a fielder's choice moments later, but that play left senior Reece Yeargain (Chester, Va. / Benedictine) in position to come home on a long fly ball to left field batted by Shawn Nickles.
• TCNJ added one in each the top of the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
• Mike Nickles opened the inning with a walk before Yeargain doubled, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Junior Kevin Mooney (Williamsburg, Va / Jamestown) brought Mike Nickles home with a single through the left side. Senior Cole Grinde (Woodford, Va. / Caroline) then earned a walk to load the bases before Yeargain came home on a walk issued to senior Zach Evans (Fort Mill, S.C. / Seneca (NJ)). Wilkerson singled to bring Mooney home and Duphorn repeated the action moments later to score R-MC's fourth and final run of the inning.  
• After a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for R-MC's defense, Grinde earned an RBI by batting Shawn Nickles home on a sacrifice fly. Nickles had doubled to get aboard.
• Despite a TCNJ score in the top of the ninth, R-MC got the victory 8-4.

Inside The Numbers – Game 1

• Starting pitcher Matt Nickles (Stafford, Va. / Colonial Forge) retired 12 batters in a row between the second and sixth innings in an impressive streak, which including six strikeouts during that stretch. He totaled 10 strikeouts on the day in a no decision outing for the senior.
• Freshman Hayden Snelsire (Berlin, Md. / Stephen Decatur) earned the win, retiring two batters on strikeouts in his three innings of work.
• Shawn Nickles finished 3-for-5 on the game with three RBI and two doubles. Mooney and Wilkerson each added two hits as well.

How It Happened – Game 2

• The Yellow Jackets got on top early in the second contest of the day. After Duphorn reached on an error, he scored when Yeargain singled up the middle with two outs. The strong two-out hitting continued as R-MC earned a pair of walks issued to Shawn Nickles and Grinde. That loaded the bases for junior Jacob Selden (Lynchburg, Va. / E.C. Glass), who doubled to left field, scoring Nickles and Yeargain. Grinde came home on a bases loaded walk issued to Wilkerson as well as R-MC left the first inning with a 4-0 lead.
• The Yellow Jackets added an additional run as more two-out hitting reigned supreme for R-MC. Mike Nickles was issued a walk early on in the inning, eventually getting to third. That allowed Grinde to score his fellow senior on a two-out double to left.
• TCNJ was able to battle back quickly though. The Lions scored four in the top of the third and one in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 5-5.
• Randolph-Macon broke the tie rapidly. In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Spencer Pietruszynski (Williamsburg, Va. / Jamestown) singled to get aboard. Mike Nickles got him home by way of reaching on a fielding error to return the lead to R-MC.
• The Lions repaid the favor in the top of the seventh as a leadoff triple came back to haunt R-MC, when that batter made it home to tie the game at 6-6.
• But as the triples kept falling on a windy day in Ashland, it was not long before one was kind to R-MC. Wilkerson hit a leadoff three-bagger to begin the seventh inning. He was followed by Duphorn, who walked, putting runners on the corners. Pietruszynski laid down a bunt single to score Wilkerson. A proceeding double by Mike Nickles scored Duphorn before Yeargain brought home both Nickles and Pietruszynski on a single to center, all before the first out was recorded. Later in the inning, Grinde doubled to bring Yeargain home, before Selden singled to score Grinde. The Yellow Jackets left the inning with a 12-6 advantage
• The team played the eighth inning, but the game was called upon conclusion of that frame due to darkness.

Inside The Numbers – Game 2

• Yeargain went 4-4 with three RBI.
• Selden scored three RBI on his two hits.
• Duphorn, Pietruszynski, Mike Nickles and Yeargain all scored two runs.
• Senior Michael Zubovich (Chantilly, Va. / Freedom (South Riding)) struck out eight over six innings of work in a no decision start.
• Junior Zack Radcliffe (Bel Air, Md. / Bel Air) earned the win on the mound, striking out three across two innings of work.

Up Next

The Yellow Jackets and the Lions return to the field tomorrow for the final of the three-game series, which is also TCNJ's season opening contests. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 Noon at Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park.