Herbert Pitches a Masterpiece for Top Spot in the AAC
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Reinhardt (GA)
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
|
Johnson (TN)
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Knoxville, TN - All eyes of the Appalachian Athletic Conference were focused on the Reinhardt vs Johnson Royals weekend series, which has the top spot of the conference on the line. It was named the Game of the Week by NAIA Ball (Instagram) and it matches up the #3 and #18 teams in the NAIA. The Eagles were able to get the one run across the plate in the ninth to take game one of what looks to be an awesome series.
NAIA All-American Andrew Herbert was magnificent today as the two top teams in the AAC battle it out for first place in the standings. He pitched solid the entire game as well as Colby Reynolds from Johnson University. Both pitchers had only 3 total hits against him, but Herbert edged Reynolds out with twelve strikeouts versus seven for Johnson. It was definitely a pitcher's dual, which is a delight for the baseball purist.
In the win, Herbert falls into second place for total season wins in the NAIA. It was his ninth win of the season thirty-fourth of his career. He is just two off of his eleven wins from the 2024 season and there is still about three weeks left in this regular season.
Brett Allen came into the ninth to finish out the game for Herbert. Allen pitched the final two outs of the ninth picking up his ninth save of the season. This save puts him at the TOP OF THE LIST in the NAIA!
Reinhardt (GA)Pitchers
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Herbert (W, 0-0) | 8.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| Brett Allen (Sv, 1) | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 9.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
The run came from Nash Crowell who singled in the top of the ninth inning. He stole second and made it to third with one out. Adrian Vargas had a "suicide squeeze" that got Crowell home for the winning run. That was the offense for the game for both teams.
The Eagles now sit at the top of the AAC standings, but they will have to keep winning as they face the Royals once again for the Saturday doubleheader in Knoxville! Reinhardt is currently 29-5 overall and 15-4 in the conference! The games are set for 12 pm and 3 pm on Saturday.