ATLANTA, Ga. ?
After Andrew Williams' ?????two-run homer tied the game in the
eighth inning, the Presbyterian College baseball team pushed No. 10 Georgia
Tech to 10 innings before succumbing 9-8.
The Blue Hose now stand at 10-33 on the season.
PC had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth as Cory Lyda singled to right
field and moved to second on a passed ball. After Jared Combs walked, the two
moved up on a wild pitch. However, Tony Micklon and Zac Rhinesmith both struck
out to leave the runners stranded.
The Blue
Hose jumped out to an early lead, gaining a 1-0 advantage in their first at
bat. Williams walked to lead things off and moved to second on Mack Hite's
sacrifice bunt. Williams scampered to third on a wild pitch before coming home
on Lyda's groundout to the right side.
After the
Yellow Jackets knotted the score at one apiece in their at bat, head coach
Elton Pollock's team made the score 3-1 in the second inning. Micklon singled
up the middle on the fourth pitch of the inning and went to second on Nate
Horton's single.
Rhinesmith
reached on a throwing error, moving to second base. Horton went to third and
Micklon crossed home for a 2-1 lead. Gabe Grammer then grounded out, scoring Horton
for the 3-1 score.
PC retired
the side in the second, but gave up three runs in the third inning on Matt
Skole's three-run homer. The Yellow Jackets extended the margin to 5-3 in the fifth. However, Pollock's team
once again battled back.
In the sixth,
Kenny Bryant singled to get things going. He moved to second on a wild pitch.
Micklon then worked the count full before walking. Horton laid down a beautiful
sacrifice bunt, reaching on a throwing error by the pitcher. Horton wound up on
second base as Bryant scored.
That play
forced a pitching change. Rhinesmith reached on a fielder's choice, bringing up
Grammer. He hit a deep fly ball to right field, plating Micklon. Williams'
fielder's choice brought home Horton, putting the score at 6-5 in favor of the visitors.
Chase
Burnette smashed a three-run homer in the seventh inning, which gave Georgia
Tech an 8-6 lead with just six outs to play in regulation.
Pollock's
team was extremely impressive in its fight. With one down in the eighth,
Grammer singled to right field on a full count. Williams then smacked an 0-1
pitch over the right field fence to tie the game.
Andrew
Foushee came in to start the bottom of the eighth, relieving Jesse Harmon. With
two on, Foushee intentionally walked a batter to load the bases with just one
away. The intentional walk allowed PC to go to any base for the out. However,
that would not be necessary as he struck out Tony Plagman for the second out
before getting Jason Haniger to fly out to end the threat.
In the 10th,
PC failed to have anyone reach base. Then, on the first pitch of the bottom of
the 10th, Jeff Rowland notched the game-winning homer.
Harmon went
seven innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits. He walked three but struck
out four. Foushee took the loss, giving up one run on four hits in two innings
of work. He walked one and struck out two.
Williams
led the way with two hits. He drove in three and crossed home twice. Combs also
had two base knocks. Micklon and Horton each scored twice. Grammer had two RBI
in the loss.
The teams
wrap up the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
