Sumner tosses no-hitter, Eagles take series at Patrick & Henry

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Wake Tech baseball won two of three on the road this weekend against Patrick & Henry, picking up their first conference wins of the season. Games one and three of the series were decided by one run each, with the team's splitting those two contests, but game two on Saturday afternoon as a 18-0 rout by the Eagles, highlighted by a five-inning no-hitter from sophomore RHP Ayden Sumner. 

Sumner's no-hitter took only 43 pitches. He struck out three and allowed no walks, with Patrick & Henry's only baserunner in the game reaching on an error. 

Game One: Wake Tech 2, Patrick & Henry 1

 A sacrifice fly by Jackson Jones put the Eagles on the board in the top of the third. Nick Schultz doubled the lead with a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning. 

McDonald earned the win in game one after his strongest start of the season. The right-handed pitcher gave up four hits and no runs over six innings, striking out seven and walking one. Aidan Warnock tossed two innings of scoreless ball in relief, recording three strikeouts. Coltin Hedrick allowed one run in the ninth, but struck out the side to secure the victory and pick up his first save of the season. 

Game two: Wake Tech 18, Patrick & Henry 0 (5 innings)

On top of Sumner's no-hitter, there were plenty of offensive highlights from the series-clinching win. The Eagles put up multiple runs in all five of their trips to the plate. Jake Mathis went 4-4 with a home run and three RBI. Blake Russell and Blake Gaffney each added three hits. 

The Eagles were busy on the basepaths throughout the game; Cameron Rickabaugh stole four bases, with Jackson Jones and Jake Mathis also stealing three each. 

Game three: Wake Tech 6, Patrick & Henry 7

The Eagles made a late comeback attempt in the series finale, plating five runs in the eighth inning, but Patfick & Henry was able hold on and salvage one game from the series. The Eagles lost despite out-hitting the Patriots 11 to nine. Jake Mathis had another big day at the plate, recording three more hits. Jackson Jones had a three-hit game as well. 

The game remained within reach in large part due to Caden Richardson, who pitched four shutout innings in relief. 

Up next

With nine conference games already in the books, the Eagles next conference matchup is not until March 14 when they host Guilford Tech for a three-game series. Before that, the Eagles will play Region 10 newcomers Robeson both home and away in midweek games, and host WVU Potomac State this weekend at the NMAC Stadium for a three-game set.