Eagles Battle To The End In 8-7 Loss To Potosi

The Eagles (3-3) fell 8-7 in their uphill battle against Potosi (4-2) on Apr. 1. Sullivan trailed 7-0 during the fourth inning but cut their deficit to one by the end of the game. 

Head Coach Ian Whitson believes that, for the Eagles to close out these tight battles, they need to deliver a “timely hit” with “runners in scoring position.” He explained, “We do a great job as far as getting runners on base and moving them into scoring position, but we have struggled at time[s] in the past two years to score those runs. We stranded nine runners throughout the game; most of those were in scoring position. A hit here or there, and we beat them by several runs. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get it done in those situations.”

Potosi struck first with three runs during the third inning, then cushioned a 7-0 lead in their following at-bat.

The Eagles climbed back on the board during the fourth inning. Mitchell Garner drove Chase Blue in to break Sullivan’s drought.

During the bottom of the fifth, Isaiah Skaggs and Alex Toews walked home with loaded bases. Then Blue smoked a ground ball RBI, allowing Seth Valley to cut Sullivan’s deficit to three.

The Trojans later seized another score to push themselves ahead 8-4.

The Eagles still refused to back down and responded with three runs at the plate. Drake Gawer popped up a fly ball to clear the bases, bringing Valley, Landen Doza and Skaggs home. 

Sullivan was at Potosi’s doorstep in the seventh but failed to tie the scoreboard. Valley doubled on a line drive, and Nate McReynolds reached third base, but they could not send the game into extra innings.

Sullivan Stats

Gawer topped the Eagles with 3 RBIs on a fly ball single.

Valley batted 2-for-3, tallying two runs, two hits and a walk.

Blue racked up two hits, an RBI and a run.

Doza unleashed an RBI, a run and a walk.

Skaggs punched it home twice, and Toews scored once.

Garner drove in a run, recording an RBI.

McReynolds came in clutch with a hit while Brody Gawer took a walk.

Raiden Redd started on the mound for Sullivan. He pounded two strikeouts while giving up four hits, three earned runs and a walk. 

Mahlon Foster followed in the rotation and pitched the top of the fourth. He struck out a batter but allowed five hits and four earned runs.

Grant Halmick came in for relief during the fifth inning. He hurled three strikeouts while surrendering three hits and an earned run.

McReynolds was last to take the hill for Sullivan. He held Potosi to zero runs during the top of the seventh. The senior threw a strikeout while just giving up two walks and a hit.

Upcoming Events

Whitson and the Eagles look to build their momentum into week four by starting each game strong. “The tone that we aim to set is to continue to compete on the mound and fill up the zone, but we want to score first,” he stated. “We want to put pressure on the opposing arms and defenses from the very beginning of the game. I feel if we do that, we will put ourselves in a good position to be successful.”

Sullivan’s varsity team first played Steelville on Apr. 7, then battled Hermann the following day. Stats for both games were unavailable at press time. 

The Eagles will host Union the following Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Sullivan will finish their busy week at the Fredericktown Wood Bat Tournament. The Eagles first face the host on Friday, then play DeSoto and Kelly the day afterward.

Sullivan will travel to St. James on Apr. 14 and face St. Clair at home the following Thursday. The Eagles will battle the Bulldogs at 4:30 p.m. on Kicking and Swinging for a Cure Night.