Bulldogs Rally for 10-9 over Asbury Baseball
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Asbury baseball lost for the second time this season in the bottom half of the final inning, falling to Union (Ky.) 10-9 on Tuesday afternoon. Game two was called with Union leading 5-3 in the 4th due to darkness.
After giving up four runs in the first inning Joey Johnson settled down and pitched into the fifth in his first career start. Johnson retired eight in a row between the second and fifth innings before being chased with one out in the fifth. He allowed six runs on seven hits and walked five.
The Eagles (1-8) responded after trailing after the first inning by scoring four of their own in the top of the second. Three straight hits to start the frame led to a RBI double by Dallas Murphy and a RBI single by Andrew Moran. Moran finished with two hits in the game, as did four other Eagles. Tyler Messner led off the second with a double to start the rally. Matt Cox and Simeon Bell also knocked in runs in the second and each had two hits in the game.
Asbury continued the rally in the fourth, adding three more runs to take a 7-4 lead. Landon Skaggs knocked in two in the inning with a double to left field. Skaggs had his team-leading fourth multi-hit game of the season.
Union (4-1) cut the deficit to 7-6 in the fifth as the Eagles needed three pitchers to escape. Asbury responded again in the sixth with two more runs to go ahead 9-6 as the Eagles scored on a wild pitch and a single by Brandon Smith. The Bulldogs tied the game again in the bottom of the innings, scoring three times on a bases loaded double off the bat of Vance Sullivan. Union completed the comeback in the seventh. A leadoff walk led to a stolen base and a passed ball before LaVance Anderson singled in the winning run.
Asbury’s 13 hits are the most so far on the young season as are the nine runs. Four of the eight losses have come by one run, including the last two.
Asbury is scheduled to play a four-game series in Nashville against Trevecca Nazarene beginning on Friday with a doubleheader at 2pm eastern. Saturday’s twin bill is set to begin at 12pm eastern.
