Ninth Inning Rally Spoils Home Opener

action photo of RC baseball player Cale Agee hitting
RC fell to CNU 8-7 in home opener

The Basics
Score:
 Roanoke 7 | Christopher Newport 8
Records: Maroons 1-2 | Captains 1-0
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: In their first home game of the season, Roanoke College welcomed Christopher Newport to the Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. The matchup would go back and forth with the Maroons holding a 7-5 advantage heading into the ninth inning. A three-run top half would lift the Captains to the 8-7 win.

How it Happened:

  • RC got a run in the third when Carter Plunkett delivered his third, double of the season to plate Gavin Kandrick.
  • After CNU tied it in the top of the fifth, the Maroons stuck for a three-spot in the bottom half highlighted by a two-run triple down the right field line by Jack Carpin that would score Mason Staz and Will Smith.
  • In the seventh, Christopher Newport would score three unearned runs to tie the game at 4-4. However, RC would re-take the lead when Plunkett sent a ball deep into the right field corner. The defender made a diving grab, but heads up base running by Smith allowed him to score all the way from second base on the sacrifice fly.
  • CNU would tie it again in the top of the eight with an RBI triple. In the bottom half, Carpin walked and was replaced by Jeb Byerley to pinch run. Tyler De Meo bunted Byerley into scoring position and Cale Agee delivered the go ahead single. Agee would score on a Jack Marshall double to right and the Maroons were up two going into the final inning.
  • A single and pair of walks would load the bases for the Captains. A hit batter plated one run and a sac fly would tie the score. A second sacrifice fly would give CNU the lead.
  • Plunkett would get hit by a pitch with one out in the ninth and advance on a ground out. A wild pitch would move the runner to third, but the final out was recorded on a liner to center that was corralled on a diving play.

Up Next: Wednesday March 6th will see a, rare, mid-week double header as Southern Virginia comes to Salem for scheduled games at 3:00 and 6:00.