Strasburg’s Paul Osting (Western Illinois) drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded, two-out, walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the Express to a 12-11 victory over Charlottesville in Game 1 of the best-of-3 VBL Championship Series.
With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Jay Douglas (Eastern Kentucky) doubled and Logan Duff (Randolph-Macon walked. With two outs, Brady Boles (Panola) walked to load the sacks, setting the stage for Osting’s heroics.
Strasburg took the early lead on a solo homer by Brady Boles (Panola) in the second and a solo blast by Landon Beaver (UAB) in the third put the Express up 2-0.
The Tom Sox surged ahead with five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a three-run homer by Kyle Langley (JMU)
The 5-2 Charlottesville lead didn’t last long as the Express answered with six runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Jay Douglas (Eastern Kentucky) and Boles each delivered a two-run single to spark the outburst.
The Express added three more runs in the sixth to lead 11-5. Morales drove in two runs with a base hit and Boles added another RBI with a single.
The Tom Sox fought back with four runs in the seventh with Brock Blayton (Florida) coming through with a run-scoring single before a two-run triple by Partick Niehus (Gardner-Webb) helped pull the Sox within two runs. Charlottesville added two runs in the eighth inning to pull even at 11-11.
Charlottesville threatened in the ninth when Evan Taveras (Miami) doubled with outs but was stranded in scoring position.
Boles led the Express, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Douglas and Morales each added two hits and two RBIs.
Braxton Pope (Randolph-Macon) pitched the final two innings to earn the win. He allowed no runs and two base hits.
Langley finished 3-for-6 with five RBIs. Taveras added two base hits.