Tom Sox down Generals in Game 3. 5-2

Home runs by Brayden Bachman (East Carolina) and Bryce Neely (Virginia) along with a strong effort on the mound powered the Tom Sox to a 5-2 win over Waynesboro in the third and deciding game of their playoff series.

Charlottesville will play for the VBL Championship, beginning Tuesday evening when the Tom Sox travel to Winchester for Game 1 of their best-of-3 title series.

Both teams scored in the first inning.

Charlottesville’s Xavier McCoury (Liberty) scored on a groundout by Tommy Landsnes (Ball State) and Waynesboro answered on a solo homer by Nick April-Gath (Florida Southwestern).

The Generals took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Brice Abbott (Longwood) tripled and Kealo Smith (Southern Virgina) followed with a double, making the score 2-1.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Tom Sox grabbed the lead. With two outs, Chase Jackson (Seminole State) singled, and Neely followed with a two-run homer, giving the visitors a 3-2 lead.

The score remained 3-2 until the top of the ninth when Bachman hammered a two-run homer, giving the Tom Sox a 5-2 lead.

Evan Alwine (Pasco Hernando) gave Charlottesville a strong start on the mound, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out six batters and walked two. Trevor Booten (Auburn) and Asher Sabom (Augusta) finished up with three scoreless innings of relief. Sabom retired all six batters he faced in order to earn the save.

In addition to the homers by Bachman and Neely, Caiden Combs (Auburn) finished 2-for-4.

April Gath finished 2-for-5 for the Generals.