ASHLAND, Va. – Sophomore Jack Bowles (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) had two hits and two RBI, while sophomore Peter Phillips (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) tossed 4.1 innings of scoreless relief, as the No. 13 Randolph-Macon baseball team defeated Messiah 7-4 on Saturday afternoon to open the 2025 season.

The Basics

Score: Randolph-Macon 7, Messiah 4

Venue: Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park

Records: RMC 1-0, MU 0-4

How It Happened:

• The Falcons plated two in the first and one in the second before the Yellow Jackets got on the board in the bottom of the second. Senior Aidan Pinto (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) drew a leadoff walk, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by freshman CJ Chatterton (Rockville, Md./Georgetown Prep) to make it 3-1.
• RMC put up a crooked number in the third. Junior Carter Schmitt (Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's) lined a leadoff double and senior Aaron Lautenschlager (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley) walked. Both runners moved up a base on a long flyout to center by senior Chaz Harvey (Charlottesville, Va./The Miller School). Sophomore Jon Quici (Paoli, Pa./Conestoga) singled to knock in Schmitt and make it 3-2. With two away, Bowles drove a double to right center to drive home two, giving the home team a 4-3 edge.
• Messiah used a solo homer in the top of the fourth to level the score at 4-4. Phillips (1-0) took over on the mound with two away in the fourth. He hurled 4.1 innings with two hits, one walk and four strikeouts to earn the victory.
• The Yellow Jackets would reclaim the lead with a two-out rally in the fifth. Junior Jordan Hill (Norfolk, Va./Granby) singled, stole second and went to third on a base hit by Chatterton. Chatterton swiped second to put two in scoring position. Sophomore Zach Wernoski (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) hit a grounder to short. The errant throw to first allowed both runners to score, putting RMC up 6-4.
• RMC added an insurance run in the seventh. Bowles started the inning with a single and was out at second on a bunt by Hill. A single by Chatterton moved Hill to second and Wernoski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Schmitt brought home Hill to make it 7-4.
• Senior Sam Slevin (Virginia Beach, Va./Frank Cox) fanned one in a hitless ninth to record the save. Slevin has 12 career saves, one away from the program record of 13 by Christian Cok (2015-18).

By The Numbers

• The Yellow Jackets have won four straight season openers, all at home.
• RMC outhit MU 9-7 and struck out just three times compared to eight walks.
• Bowles had two hits and two RBI.
• Chatterton went 3 for 4 with a walk, one run and one RBI. He also stole three bases.
• Hill was 1 for 3 with a walk and scored twice.

Up Next

RMC and Messiah will complete the series with a noon doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 23.