Eagles, Patriots End in Tie
WILMORE, Ky. – A two-run lead in the top of the 8th inning wasn’t enough for the Eagles as they blew the lead and finished with their second tie of the season 6-6 in 13 innings against St. Catharine College on Tuesday afternoon. The game was called due to darkness after 13 innings and will stand as a tie.
Asbury (3-2-2) took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Danny Olszowy led off the inning with a single and promptly stole second. After a fly out Anthony Palmer single and then Olszowy and Palmer stole second and third respectively. Jordan Barker followed with an RBI single to center. Tyler Weaver would pinch-run for Barker and steal second which allowed him and Palmer to score on a single from Brandon Smith.
The Eagles would tack on another run in the fourth as Olszowy laced a two-out triple to the center field fence. Evan Thomsen would knock him in with of his two hits on the day. Olszowy and Smith each collected two hits as well.
Cody Christopher got the start on the mound and pitched five strong innings allowing seven hits and four runs, but only one earned. Once again the Eagles’ defense let them down, committing three errors in the game. St. Catharine scored only two earned runs in the game, and the Eagles have now given up 13 un-earned runs in seven games this season.
St. Catharine scored their first two runs in the fifth and then added two more in the top of the sixth to knock Christopher out of the game. Mark Deetsch finished the inning without giving up a hit. Josh Cummins followed with two strikeouts and only one walk in the seventh. Josh Thigpen gave up a solo home run in the eighth to bring the Patriots within one.
In the ninth Gardner Adams was brought in to close the door, but once again the defense allowed the Patriots to score. After a single to lead off the inning, Asbury dropped a pop up in foul territory kept Juan Moriel alive at the plate. He was later hit in the at-bat giving the Patriots two runners with no outs. After a strikeout, two passed balls allowed St. Catharine to tie the game. Adams would get the final two outs.
The Eagles would have their final chance in the 12th with the bases loaded and only one out, but a strikeout and a tapper back to the pitcher erased any chance of a dramatic walk-off win.
Brad Williams pitched the final four innings for the Eagles giving up three hits, two walks, and striking out five. Asbury struck out 15 times at the plate in the game against eight St. Catharine pitchers.
The Eagles are set to play a three-game series with Grace College on Friday and Saturday. Friday one nine-inning game is set to start at 1:00 pm with a double-header scheduled on Saturday beginning at 12:00 pm.
