Pitching and Timely Hitting Help Take Down No. 11 Middle Georgia State

Pitching and Timely Hitting Help Take Down No. 11 Middle Georgia State
Box Score

Team Stats

April 13, 2021

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

COCHRAN, Ga. – A four-run fourth inning helped No. 16 Reinhardt complete a comeback victory on the road at No. 11 Middle Georgia State on Tuesday evening, 6-5, improving the Eagles to 27-10 in the process.

Solid work on the mound, coupled with a 2-run homer from Dalton Turnbow and a 2-run single by Nick Sanders, helped spark the visitors to the positive outcome in non-conference action.

"Outstanding effort today on the road in a tough environment against a good team," head coach Jonathan Burton said. "This was a big win for our team and had an opening round feel to it. We needed a win like this because these are the teams we have to beat in May to advance.

"Nate Richardson and Chandler Gant stepped up in a big way for our team on the mound and we continued to have timely hitting with runners on base. Very proud of our team… They all wanted the same thing today and worked together to get it."

The Knights got on the board first in the bottom of the second on a solo blast to dead center field for a 1-0 lead. The advantage didn't last long, however, as Reinhardt got one back in the third on a Devin Symlar groundout.

Tied at 1-1, the Eagles exploded for four tallies on two big hits – five total knocks in the stanza – as they bolted ahead, 5-1. The hosts made things interesting with a 2-run blast and an RBI-single in their next two at-bats to head into the sixth trailing, 5-4.

Both offenses would stay quiet until the hometown team got a much-needed insurance run in the top of the ninth from Jacob Profit on a sacrifice fly. That run would prove valuable as Middle Georgia began the bottom of the ninth with two hits and got a SAC fly – before ending the night on a popout to first base.

Sanders was the lone Eagle with multiple hits in the win as they gathered seven as a group.

Nate Richardson got the victory on the mound after going five innings and striking out a pair. Chandler Gant came in with a lead and kept it that way for a four-inning save with four strikeouts.

The club looks to keep it rolling this weekend against Point (Ga.) at home. The series was shifted due to football hosting the NAIA FCS First Round, so Friday will now be a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. against the Skyhawks.

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