Baseball Avoids Path of Tornadoes in 8-7 Triumph

Baseball Avoids Path of Tornadoes in 8-7 Triumph
Box Score

Team Stats

April 6, 2021

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – A squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth scored the winning run for Reinhardt on Tuesday evening, helping the 16th-ranked Eagles avoid disaster, 8-7, against Talladega (Ala.) at Ken White Baseball Field.

For the hometown squad (21-9), the return to the field was much needed, but the drama in the later innings could've been avoided if the necessary plays were made earlier in the non-conference clash.

"What a way to come back from a layoff," head coach Jonathan Burton said. "We controlled six innings and blew a six-run lead with nine outs to go. Nate was great today, and our bullpen had some rough patches, but we never wavered offensively. This was a really good day for us at the plate as we made a lot of hard outs.

"There were some timely executed plays that led to this win. We are growing as a team and are finding ways to win. Just proud of these guys and how we are sticking by each other."

The first three-plus innings went in quick fashion as both teams swung early and often. The scoreboard finally changed in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-double from Dalton Turnbow. The 1-0 advantage then moved to 4-0 after a balk and a 2-RBI single from Albert Mora – who would bring in another run (5-0) in the bottom of the sixth on a groundout.

The lead would balloon to 6-0 after Nick Sanders doubled down the right-field line to wrap up the scoring in the sixth frame.

The Tornadoes would then start to form into place as the offense got on the board three times in the top of the seventh compliments of a 2-RBI triple and a sacrifice fly. Now ahead, 6-3, Keven Jimenez promptly responded with an RBI-double in the bottom of the stanza to get it back to 7-3.

Talladega wasn't done, however, as it used the big stick in the top of the eighth – a grand slam – to shock the crowd and tie the score at 7-7. Reinhardt would be able to collect itself and stop the bleeding the rest of the way.

Andres Ugarte, who had the night off, pinch hit in the ninth and was hit by a pitch. His courtesy runner, Jacob Profit, moved to second on a SAC bunt and then got to third on a stolen base. From there, Profit stormed down the line and slid past home plate on a Jarrett Burney bunt right in front of the catcher.

The club collected 10 hits in the victory, with three players gathers two knocks each. Five Reinhardt student-athletes registered an RBI as well, with Mora leading the way with three.

Nate Richardson went six innings (4 Ks) and allowed just one hit, but Jackson Sisk got the win in relief after 1.1 innings of work and two strikeouts.

The team is back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon against Martin Methodist (Tenn.) at 4 p.m.

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