The Roanoke College baseball team walked into their season opener with a mix of excitement and anticipation. It had been since 2021 that they’d won their first game of the season, but this year was different. Under the guidance of new head coach Brett Kaminski, the Maroons were ready to make their mark. Things didn’t start easily. Methodist jumped ahead with two runs, one in the fourth and another in the fifth, putting Roanoke on the back foot early. But the Maroons weren’t discouraged. In the sixth, Parker Stallard stepped up and smashed a solo home run, pulling Roanoke within one. Not long after, Hayden Giordano capitalized on a passed ball to score, tying things up at 2-2. The tension was building.
In the seventh, Nate Price was a spark plug, stealing third base and then advancing home when a throw sailed wide. Roanoke now had the lead at 3-2, and the energy on the field was palpable. But the game wasn’t over. Methodist fought back in the ninth, tying the score and sending the game into extra innings. Everyone in the stands was on edge—could Roanoke finish it? The answer came on the 11th. Nate Price, who had been a constant presence all game, led off with a double. Then Parker Stallard came through once again, driving in Price with a clutch RBI to give the Maroons a 4-3 lead. He took the mound in the bottom of the inning, calm and focused, finishing the game with two scoreless innings and just one hit allowed. When the final outing came, Roanoke had done it—they’d won their first game of the season in dramatic, extra-inning fashion!
Parker Stallard was the standout offensive player, finishing with two RBIs and the team’s first home run of the season. Nate Price made his presence felt all over the field with two runs, a double, a stolen base, and a whole lot of grit. On the mound, Trevor Orth and Thomas Burgess had done their part, keeping the team in it and allowing the offense to do what it needed to do. As the team celebrated their hard-fought 4-3 win, the sense of accomplishment was clear. Not only had they won their season opener, but they had done it in a way that would be remembered for a long time.
Mariana Hanlin
Staff Reporter
