Dominant Pitching, White’s Four RBIs Lift Aces Past Braves, 6-3

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Before Sunday’s game at Frank Mann Field, players, Alexandria Aces coaches and fans paused for a moment of silence honoring the U.S. service members affected by the recent Iranian missile and drone attack in Jordan.

Once play began, the Alexandria Aces delivered one of their most complete performances of the summer, defeating the Metro South County Braves, 6-3 before 80 faithful fans.

Alexandria took control early. Elijah Grant (Presbyterian College) walked, stole second and scored on Hunter White’s (West Liberty University) sacrifice fly in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.

The Aces tacked on three more runs in the second as Jack Rubin (Fordham University) scored on a bases-loaded walk by Jackson Sgro (Haverford College) before White’s two-run single brought home William Bercaw (Columbia University) and Liam Irving (Allegheny College), stretching the lead to 4-0.

On the mound, left-hander Jack Rucker (Salisbury University) was outstanding, scattering two hits over three scoreless innings while striking out five and walking none to earn his first victory of the season. “Rucker was great for us tonight,” Aces Head Coach Brian Wirth said. “Anytime he’s on the mound, it doesn’t matter who’s on the other side, we’re going to have a great chance to win.”

The bullpen picked up right where Rucker left off. Braxtyn Vackar (Southeastern University), Will Vieira (Fordham University), and Brody Shawn (High Point University) combined to cover the final six innings, refusing to let the Braves climb back into the game. Vackar handled the middle innings, Vieira kept the pressure on with quality strikes, and Shawn retired the final four batters he faced to earn the save.

“I can’t say enough positive things about Vackar, Vieira and Brody Shawn,” Wirth said. “They want the ball every night. Vackar is leading the league in appearances, Vieira and Brody are top five. Those guys are great competitors.”

Together, Alexandria’s four pitchers limited the Braves to six hits, struck out nine and walked just two, turning in one of the club’s strongest performances on the mound this summer.

Metro South County chipped away with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Aces answered both threats. Matthew Pazak (University of Pennsylvania) scored on a bases-loaded walk by Irving in the fifth before White added an insurance run an inning later with a solo home run to left, restoring Alexandria’s four-run lead at 6-2.

The Braves scored their final run in the eighth when Owen Peltier (Virginia Military Institute) crossed the plate on a throwing error, but Alexandria closed out the victory without further trouble.

White finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a sacrifice fly and four RBIs, accounting for two-thirds of the Aces’ offense. “Hunter White is a tireless worker,” Wirth said. “I’ve seen firsthand how detail-oriented he is with his preparation, and I’m proud to see it unfold when the lights are on.”

Sgro added two hits and an RBI for Alexandria, while Daniel McGinnis (Eastern Mennonite University), Pazak, Jack Warner (University of Pennsylvania) and Bercaw each collected a hit.

The Aces also drew nine walks, forcing Metro South County pitchers to throw 172 pitches. Owen Peltier (Virginia Military Institute) led the Braves offensively, going 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, while Robert Kelly (Monmouth University) also collected two hits. Ben Robinson (New Jersey Institute of Technology) scored one of Metro South County’s three runs.

The victory improved Alexandria to 15-20, keeping the Aces in third place in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League’s South Division. Metro South County fell to 17-18 but remained in second place, two games ahead of the Aces.

Alexandria returns to Frank Mann Field on Monday for a split doubleheader against the Olney Cropdusters.

The first game, scheduled for 5 p.m., is the continuation of a suspended game that was halted because of inclement weather. The regularly scheduled game will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children and may be purchased at alexandriaaces.org/tickets.