Reinhardt Blasts its Way to 12-1 Conference Win

Reinhardt Blasts its Way to 12-1 Conference Win
Box Score

Team Stats

February 28, 2020

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – Reinhardt baseball returned to its home field for the first time in a number of games after continuous rain, and opened up the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) slate with a bang – 12-1 (in seven innings) – over the visiting Rams of Columbia International (S.C.) Friday evening.

The win improves the Eagles to 10-4 (1-0 AAC) after they netted three-or-more tallies in a trio of frames, including the opening pair of stanzas when the hometown team put seven on the board.

"Very proud of how locked in our guys were today," head coach Jonathan Burton said. "We knew we needed to be at our best today with the pitcher they had on the mound. Now, we need to put this game behind us quickly and focus on a new plan for tomorrow. This team was excited to play today after the tough loss we had Tuesday night… We all wanted that bad taste out of our mouth and our attitude and effort showed today."

The Rams went up-and-down in order in the top of the first, and before they knew it, they were down, 3-0, after one stanza of play following multiple hits, a hit-by-pitch, sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk.

The hole for the visitors got a lot deeper in the second frame, as they watched Reinhardt add four more to its total after five hits and an error. Andres Ugarte brought in a run on a triple down the line for the second score of the inning and was then followed up by another run on the bases and a Malique Foreman double.

The two teams traded runs in the fourth as Columbia International got an RBI-single to center, but gave it right back on an Ugarte blast to left in the bottom of the inning.

The contest was essentially locked up after five stanzas of play, highlighted by a Dorian Berry RBI-double, an Ugarte SAC fly and a 2-run shot by Chris Basilio.

Eagle pitchers held the fort the rest of the way in the 11-run victory.

Basilio went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs, while three additional teammates notched two hits apiece. 

Berry scored three times and Ben Heideman stole a base.

Defensively, the Eagles turned numerous double plays behind strong pitching, led by Jordan Hampton's five innings, two strikeouts and one run given up.

The conference series continues tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

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