Eagles Stay Alive in KIAC Tournament
BEREA, Ky. – Asbury stayed alive on the second day of the KIAC Tournament, winning 6-5 in 10 innings over Brescia after dropping their first game 10-6 against Berea. The Eagles will be in action again on Friday at 3:00 pm against Cincinnati Christian who eliminated Alice Lloyd 2-1 on Thursday.
In game one Gardner Adams (10-3) struck out 13 in 7.2 innings of work but took the loss as the defense committed three errors leading to three unearned runs. Adams allowed only eight hits and walked one.
Berea scored in each of the last six innings including two in the top of the seventh to take back the lead for good at 5-4. Asbury (31-15-2) scored twice in the sixth, as Greg Bowling hit a sacrifice fly and Mark Deetsch knocked in one with an RBI single.
In game two Brescia scored twice in the first inning, taking a 2-1 lead. After that Josh Thigpen would settle down and allow only one unearned run in his final six innings. Thigpen allowed only five hits, four walks, three runs and struck out nine in seven innings. Anthony Palmer (1-1) picked up the win with three innings in relief. Palmer surrendered the lead in the eighth as Brescia scored twice to take a 5-4 lead.
In the ninth Evan Thomsen tripled with one out and Greg Bowling knocked in pinch runner Travis Martin to tie the score at 5-5. Brescia put the winning run on third with two outs but Palmer got John Kapu to bounce out to short to send the game to extras.
Cody Christopher led off the 10th with a single to right, his third of the game. Pinch runner Tyler Weaver advanced to second on a throwing error from catcher John Kapu, trying to pick off Weaver at first. Nathan Humphrey retired the next two batters before Casey Messner singled home the winning run. Palmer retired the side in order in the bottom of the tenth.
Humphrey pitched all 10 innings for Brescia, giving up 18 hits and striking out seven. Asbury’s 18 hits are one shy of a season-high. They had 19 just over a week ago against Berea. Along with Christopher Greg Bowling and Matt Ciolek collected three hits against Brescia. Ciolek finished the day with six hits and two RBIs.
