Stranded runners prove costly in 6-5 loss at Georgetown
Georgetown, KY - Asbury overcame a three-run deficit to tie the game at 5-5 in the ninth inning but 17 total stranded runners would prove costly when Asbury would leave the bases loaded without scoring for the fourth time in the 10th inning. Georgetown won the game getting an error on a relay throw for the second time that scored a Tiger runner from second base. The 6-5 result dropped Asbury to 2-6 on the year, coming on the heels of the Eagles' 9-6 win over Georgetown last Thursday night.
Asbury struck first getting a run in the top of the first inning after Mark Deetsch singled, stole second base and then scored on a Zach Monroe single. Georgetown would get a pair of runs in the second and another in the third when center fielder Luke Temple missed the cutoff man, allowing the runner to score from second.
The Eagles would then begin their string of leaving men on base in the 4th inning after a Deetsch single, Monroe walk, and Evan Thomsen single gave Asbury the bases full with no outs. Matt Ciolek and Cody Christopher would launch back-to-back fly outs with Christopher's being deep enough to score Tim Parker, pinch running for Monroe. Gardner Adams would strike out to end the Eagle threat and closing the score to 3-2 Georgetown.
Trailing 4-2 after a Georgetown run in the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles earned three straight walks after two outs in the 6th giving Asbury bases loaded again, but third baseman Dan Kemen handled a one-hop liner by Temple. Georgetown looked to blow the game open in the bottom half of the sixth inning after scoring a run on an error by third-baseman Cody Christopher. Relief pitcher Koby Hearn would work himself out of the jam after the error by striking out the next two Georgetown hitters and inducing the third out on a ground ball, leaving the Tigers ahead 5-2.
Bases loaded woes continued for Asbury as first-baseman Travis Martin flied out in the 7th and a Mark Deetsch grounder to third allowed a tag out of Adams in the 8th to squander two more opportunities.
Hearn would continue to hold Georgetown off the board and the Eagles finally capitalized with bases loaded in the 9th when Monroe singled, James Barber singled, and Colby Flowers drew a walk to load them up for the third consecutive inning. Parker again ran for Monroe and Christopher then looped a fly ball that Tiger centerfielder Chris Wilkerson dropped, scoring Parker. Adams then laid a squeeze bunt to perfection sacrificing himself while scoring Barber, making it a 5-4 game. After a Temple strikeout, Terrence Shelburne would beat out a soft roller to third base allowing Flowers to score and even the game at 5-5. Asbury had a chance to reclaim the lead but Travis McConathy struck out to set the stage for tenth inning.
The Eagles will next be in action on Friday at home at 3:30 p.m. against Oakland City (Ind.) University. The two teams will then return the next day at 12:00 noon for a doubleheader.
