Eagles Get First Win at Southeast Rumble

Waleska, GA - The Southeast Rumble continued on Friday with a second day full of baseball games which included games with Taylor vs Cumberlands in game one, Cumberlands vs Tennessee Southern in game two, and Reinhardt vs Baker University in the nightcap game. The Eagles were able to walk away with their first win of this young 2024 season, but it was not easy and it took them until the seventh inning to get on the board.  At the end of the night, the Eagles secured a 6-4 victory over the visiting Wildcats.

The game saw Baker striking first in the second inning where they scored one run.  They held this one-run lead the entire game, until the bottom of the seventh when the Eagles were able to catch up.  In the top of the seventh, the Wildcats added two more runs to make it 3-0 and things did not look like it would go in Reinhardt's favor, however, the seventh inning proved to be the inning where Reinhardt got things going. The bottom of the seventh had a few unusual plays that allowed the Eagles to get their first runs of the game. A balk, a wild pitch, a hit batter, and a deep sacrifice fly to right field were all part of the scoring scenarios that got Reinhardt back in the game.  At the end of seven, the Eagles had a narrow 4-3 lead.

The Bobcats caught back up in the top of the eighth tying the game back at 4 all. Cobey Allison entered the game in the top of the eighth to pitch to the final batter of the inning and stopped the Bobcats from putting any more runs on the board.  Reinhardt had a productive eighth inning where they added two more runs giving some security to the narrow lead. Allison shut down the side in the top of the ninth helping the Eagles secure the much-needed win. Allison's numbers had him striking out three batters and only allowing one hit in his 1.1 innings.

Hunter Paulsen started the game on the mound for the Eagles and he did a pretty good job until being pulled after the fifth inning. Evan Venable and Cason Rich would also get some time on the mound after Paulsen left the game and both kept the game within striking distance. This was just enough to help the Eagles finally get on the board and eventually take the lead.  Allison was excellent after he entered and closed things out for the Eagles.

Reinhardt (GA)Pitchers

It was not the best game offensively for the Eagles, but it showed that they can keep the game close defensively and allow the team to get back in the game by manufacturing a few runs and capitalizing on the other teams' mistakes. Tucker Zdunich had the best game at the plate going 2 for 4 and scoring a run.  He also recorded one RBI helping the Eagles get back in the game.

Defensively, Jacob Profit had an outstanding game in the field leading two double-play balls and a bang-bang play at the plate.  The double plays and the play at the plate all prevented the Wildcats from scoring runs early in the game. Several Eagles had good games defensively, but Profit stood out covering all his duties at second base for the Eagles.

Reinhardt will not have much time to rest as they will play again on Saturday morning for game one of day three of the Southeast Rumble.  The Eagles play Taylor University at 11 am and then Tennessee Southern immediately after.  The offense will have to get moving for the Eagles if they plan on taking a few more games in the tournament.  The nightcap game on Saturday will be Baker University vs Tennessee Southern.