NEWPORT NEWS, VA - What a time for the Pacers to be playing their best baseball of the year. WPU started leg one of a difficult road trip at #18 Christopher Newport on Tuesday. The Pacers hopped off the bus just as hot as they were after winning 4 of their last five ball games last week.
WPU got off to an incredibly hot start in Newport News, VA. Once again, the young top of the lineup delivered immediately as a ringing double from Gavin Turner put the Pacers on the board, scoring fellow freshman, Caden French.
A couple of free-passes later, Alex Levesque stepped to the plate with three runners on. Levesque dumped a base hit into left center, scoring both Turner brothers, making it a crooked number in the first frame for the Pacers. The early offense for Peace knocked the Captains starter out of the game before even finishing an inning.
Sophomore JJ Dobson got the start for the Pacers, working through a slight jam in the bottom of the first. The Pacer starter was not as fortunate in the second, as the Captains would put up 2 in the bottom of the second.
Reigning USA South freshman of the week, Gavin Turner would deliver another big hit, leading off the top of the 4th with a base hit and coming around to score on a Griffin Sandstrum RBI single three batters later.
The Captain would respond in the bottom of the 5th when a 2 RBI single by Stone Lasseigne tied the game up at 4. However, the game wouldn't stay tied for long.
Pacer veteran Griffin Sandstrum, who has historically played well at Captain Stadium, delivered a 2 RBI single, scoring Jacob Herzberg and Gavin Turner, who had reached on his third base hit of the ballgame. Adam Joseph added to the hit parade, scoring Alex Levesque who had stopped at third on the Sandstrum knock.
Although it was already a 7-4 ballgame, the fireworks were just getting started. Two separate two out base hits for the Captains tied the game up once again in the bottom of the seventh.
The three run Captain seventh seemed significant, but the Pacers were not intimidated, going right back to work. How about a 5 spot in the top of the 8th, restoring all the momentum that had been lost in the seventh.
Singles for Ian Turner and Alex Levesque set the stage once again for Griffin Sandstrum, who doubled both baserunners in. The Captains kicked a ground ball, giving the Pacers their 10th run of the ballgame. Two more baserunners reached and the scariest sight for any pitcher with runners on, a red hot Gavin Turner stepped into the box.
You may be able to fill in the blank at this point, the Pacer youngster connected again, scoring both runners and delivering a knockout punch… for the moment.
The Captains did all they could in the bottom of the 8th, sending a solo shot, and a three-run home run into the Newport News sky. The tension that had been erased by Pacer bats, had been restored by the Captain offense.
Freshman relief pitcher Landon Coleman, who had been on the shelf for the last two weeks with a head injury, was given the ball with a slim one-run lead. Despite hitting the first batter, Colman recovered and shut the Captain down in the 9th, giving the Pacers their most valuable win of the year.
The perseverance and strength of this year's diamond Pacers can't be overstated. That is now five wins in the last 6 games for Coach Long and crew. The Pacers look to continue their momentum as they wrap up their northern road trip at #9 Salisbury Wednesday, 3/12.
