Box Score MOUNT BERRY, Ga. (March 7, 2013) – Three unearned runs allowed with two outs in the bottom of the eighth spelled doom for the Sewanee baseball team, as the Tigers dropped a 10-9 decision Thursday at Southern Athletic Association opponent Berry College.
Having led the Vikings for the entire game, the Tigers entered the eighth inning leading by a narrow 8-7 margin, but couldn't hold on for the win.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the game's first inning.
James Snover reached first base on a fielding error by the Viking third baseman to lead off the game. A single to right field by
Ben Clune put Tiger runners at first and third.
Blake Williams followed with an RBI single to left field chasing home Snover.
Jack Rogers then singled to center field loading the bases with no outs. Back-to-back fielder's choices by
Colin Barrera and
Jack Whaley drove in Clune and Williams.
Berry countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first frame to cut the Tigers' lead to 3-2.
Sewanee responded with a run in the top of the second inning when
Brett Polston drew a lead-off walk, advanced to second base on
Grant Goodson's ground out and to third on a wild pitch. Snover singled to center field driving home Polston giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead.
The Vikings scratched out a run in the home half of the fourth inning to draw within one of the Tigers at 4-3.
In the top of the fifth inning Sewanee exploded for four runs to take an 8-3 lead. With one out Clune singled to right field, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third as Williams reached first base on a fielder's choice. With runners on first and third, Rogers lifted a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Clune. Barrera followed with a single moving Williams to third. Whaley blasted a double to left field plating Williams.
Allen Thigpen ripped a two-out single to left field driving home Barrera and Whaley.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Vikings fought back again to make it a one-run game by picking up four runs to make the score 8-7. Berry took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth when they pushed across three unearned runs with two outs to take a 10-8 lead over the Tigers.
Sewanee tried to rally from behind in the ninth inning when Rogers reached first base on an error to start the inning. Rogers stole second base and advanced to third on a ground out. Thigpen drove Rogers home with a single up the middle to make the score 10-9. A strike out ended the Tiger threat and the game.
Clune led the Tiger's 12-hit attack with three hits on the day, while Barrera, Snover and Thigpen contributed two hits apiece. Thigpen picked up three RBI.
Marshall Ussery was charged with the loss in relief giving up two runs, both unearned, in a third of an inning's work. Starting pitcher
Charles Warren lasted six full innings, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits.
With the loss the Tigers drop to 4-6 overall and 0-4 in SAA action.
Sewanee and Berry will square off again tomorrow in the three-game series when they play a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. EST.
