Allen Rallies Eagles Past MICDS In Opener

Will Allen’s bases-loaded double in the fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie and helped Sullivan to a 6-2 victory in their season opener Friday against MICDS.

Allen, who had three hits, capped off a two-out rally for the Eagles. Sullivan entered the inning trailing 2-1. 

Lefty Jimmy Hereford came into the game for Sam Kohler and got two quick outs, but he couldn’t finish the job. Hereford walked the next four batters, including a bases-loaded walk to Austin Frye that tied the game at 2-2.

MICDS lifted Hereford for Ben Axelrod. Axelrod couldn’t put away Allen, who slashed a double into right.

Sullivan added another run in the sixth when Blayten Nolie scored on a passed ball.

Garrett Juergens and Joshua Wiese combined to shut down the Rams’ bats. Juergens started and went six innings, striking out six, scattering four hits and walking two. 

Wiese collected the final three outs on just nine pitches.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jacob Miller reached on an error at third and stole second. Landon Hoffman advanced him to third with a groundout, then Cody McKinney was hit by a pitch. Jacob Hatcher beat out a double play turn, which scored Miller.

MICDS threatened in the second. Grayson Senn singled, Griffin Baur was hit by a pitch and Gus Pulos legged out a bunt single to short. Jack Brooks grounded into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to score Senn. Reagan Andrew lined an RBI single to center, scoring Baur for a 2-1 lead. 

Brooks rounded second, but slipped on the turf a few feet from the base. Sullivan threw into second and Brooks took off for third. The throw was high and he reached safely. Andrew went to second, setting up the Rams for a big inning.

Juergens struck out Kohler, then got Liam Sallee to tap a grounder to Jacob Hatcher at first, ending the inning.

After issuing a leadoff walk in the fourth, Juergens settled in. He retired the next nine batters and struck out the side in the fifth. 

Eagles Get Chances

Sullivan had only five hits, but struck out just once and put pressure on MICDS’ defense. The Rams committed three errors.

Sullivan had runners on base in all six innings they came to bat. Kohler was able to duck out of trouble before exiting the game after four innings. 

Trailing 2-1 in the second, Sullivan had the go-ahead run after Allen led off with a single and Juergens walked. Kohler got a double play. He followed it up by hitting Nolie with two outs. A fly out by Jacob Miller ended the inning.

Hatcher started a two-out rally in the third, but was thrown out trying to steal. 

Swirling Winds

Despite temperatures being in the upper 40s, strong gusts of winds blowing straight out of Bank of Sullivan Ballpark made for a breezy opener.

Hoffman laid out for a fly ball in the third that kept a runner at first. And whether it was miscommunication or the wind, MICDS failed to catch a pop fly near the mound in the sixth.