SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Tyler Pinson and
Aidan Petrocco each posted two hits and two runs scored, but Anderson University collected 19 hits and Zac Stawski drove in the winning runs with a two-run single in the ninth in a 9-7 victory over Sewanee in the baseball action in the season opener for both teams here Friday afternoon at Montgomery Field.
Both clubs scored four runs in the first inning, including a three-run homer by Anderson's Griffin Wolf and a two-run single from Sewanee's
John Bagwell. The teams traded runs over the next four innings and both scored in the eighth, with Pinson smashing a solo homer to left to tie the game at seven.
Stawski's two-out, two-run single to right proved to be the difference, his fourth hit of the game. Dylan Hogan added four hits for the Ravens, who stranded 11 baserunners in the contest.
Zach Fortman and collected two hits and Pinson and Petrocco each scored two runs for the Tigers.
Tahj Donald got off to a rough start on the mound for Sewanee before settling down, allowing five runs on 10 hits with no walks and four strikeouts in four innings.
Eli Potter worked four frames in relief, giving up two runs on eight hits, and
Will Berry suffered loss, allowing two runs on one hit with two walks in the ninth.
Anderson starter Rex Richter worked 2.1 innings, giving up six runs on six hits, but Evan Rinehart tossed four shutout frames. Drew Doty picked up the win, working out of a two-on, no-out jam in the bottom of the eighth after Pinson's homer, and Leo McEnulty got the final three outs for the save, tossing just 10 pitches.
The Ravens scored four runs in the top of the first on six hits, starting with singles by Daniel Barreca and Stawski. Wolf then belted a three-run homer to right. Trey Dorton and Hogan both singled with one out and Zayden Stiller followed with an RBI single up the middle. Donald got out of the inning with a fly ball and a popout.
The Tigers answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning, with Petrocco posting a one-out single to center before an RBI double to rightcenter from
Charlie Teel. Pinson walked and
Spencer Yu singled to left with two outs, loading the bases. Bagwell lined a single to right, scoring two runs, and a grounder down the third base line by
Owen Andress was just fair and off the glove of Russell Weaver, plating Yu and knotting the game at four.
Petrocco and Pinson both walked with in the second inning and Fortman's RBI single to leftcenter put the Tigers in front, 5-4, but Anderson evened the game in the third after Dorton was hit to leadoff, stole second and scored on a one-out single from Stiller.
Sewanee came back in the bottom of the inning, though, with Bagwell drawing a leadoff walk and moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Andress.
Tre Wilson drew a free pass as well before a pitching change for the Ravens. Leinberger also walked, loading the bases, and Petrocco's groundout plated a run.
In the fifth Hogan doubled off the wall in rightfield to start the inning and moved to third when Potter misplayed a grounder by Stiller. Weaver then doubled to leftcenter, scoring a run, but Stiller was thrown out at the plate on a relay from Fortman.
The Tigers threatened to add to the lead in the sixth when Pinson led off with a single and Fortman reached on a bunt single. Yu pushed the runners to second and third with a sac bunt, but Bagwell flied out to short right and Andress popped out to end the inning.
In the eighth inning, Stawski singled to leadoff and moved to second on a deep fly ball down the rightfield line. With two outs Dorton singled to center, driving home the run for a 7-6 Anderson advantage.
Pinson blasted a solo homer, a line drive into the trees in left, to leadoff the bottom of the eighth. Fortman was hit and Yu walked, with Anderson bringing in Doty. Pinch-hitter
Jude Wascom and Andress both flied out and Wilson grounded out to end the threat.
Stiller walked to leadoff the ninth for Anderson and pinch-runner Ben Brown stole second. With two outs Barreca also drew a free pass and went to second on a wild pitch. Stawski lined a 1-2 pitch to right, plating both runners.
Sebastian Leinberger and Teel both flied out and Petrocco lined out in the bottom of the ninth.
The same two teams play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.
