Eagles Break Away From Pacific In Seventh Inning

The potential for a second straight walk-off loss was looming for Sullivan.

Tied 3-3 in the seventh inning against Pacific on Thursday, the Eagles’ bats created some breathing room with a four-run frame that provided the difference.

JD McReynolds stroked the go-ahead run. Jacob Hatcher followed with an RBI single, stole third and dashed home on an error to help the Eagles past Pacific 7-3.

Sullivan (9-3) bounced back from their first back-to-back losses of the year.

Josh Wiese recorded the final nine outs and ended the Indians with a pair of strikeouts. 

Sullivan’s defense committed three errors, but also made two critical plays in the sixth and seventh innings.

Wiese was able to preserve a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning with the help of center fielder Jacob Miller, who threw out Dylan Myers as he tried to advance to third. 

Blayten Nolie caught TJ Griffith trying to steal third in the seventh.

Garrett Juergens made the start and went four innings. He struck out six, but walked five and allowed four hits. Only one of three runs were charged to him.

Cody McKinney had a go-ahead homer to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth. He also had a sacrifice fly to help the Eagles establish a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Hatcher had three hits, including an RBI double in the third. 

Austin Frye had two hits, reached base on a walk, doubled and scored three runs. Braden Carey doubled and Nolie tripled.

Frye’s one-out double in the first got Sullivan going. He went to third on a passed ball, then crossed the plate on McKinney’s sacrifice.

Frye scored again in the third when he led off with a single, advanced to second when McKinney was hit by a pitch and scored on Hatcher’s double.

Juergens racked up five strikeouts through the first three innings. He walked Dylan Myers and Tyler Anderson at the top of the order with two outs in the third, but induced a groundout from Jordan Cowsert. 

In the fourth, he struck out Alec Lonsberry and got Griffith to pop out to Hatcher, but he plunked Gavin Racer and walked Carter Myers. An error at short on Cody McKinney loaded the bases for Faolin Kreienkamp, who drew a walk to make it 2-1. Dylan Myers lined a single to center, scoring Carter Myers.

McKinney avenged the error with a solo homer to left, his second of the year. It put the Eagles back on top 3-2.

Juergens couldn’t finish the fifth. He allowed a leadoff double to Cowsert, a single to Lonsberry and a walk to Griffth. Sullivan turned to Wiese. Racer chopped a fielder’s choice to second, allowing Cowsert to score, but pushing runners into scoring position.

Wiese got out of the inning when Carter Myers bunted a pop-up to the catcher Nolie, then Nick Hoerchler struck out swinging.

Pacific threatened in the sixth with a pair of walks. Cowsert popped a single to center. Dylan Myers couldn’t make it to the bag in time and Miller threw him out. One batter later, Wiese fanned Jayden Mach to keep the score at 3-3.

Frye and McKinney drew walks from Lonsberry to start the seventh. McReynolds singled up the middle to score Frye. He advanced to second on the throw. Hatcher drilled the first pitch he saw to center, scoring both runners for a 6-3 lead. Hatcher went to second, stole third and scored on an error.

Wiese found his way out of another jam in the seventh. He allowed a leadoff single to Griffith and Racer reached on an error by McKinney. Nolie then caught Griffith trying to steal third. 

Carter Myers reached on an error by McReynolds, but it would be the last time the Indians would put the ball in play. Wiese struck out Hoerchler and Kreienkamp to clinch the victory.