Eagles Take Advantage Of Pacific’s Errors In Victory
By Ryan Storz
Sullivan scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning Thursday to snap a 6-6 tie and defeat Pacific 8-7 in a Four Rivers Conference game.
Pacific tied the game with four runs in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded double by Jobe Courtney.
The Eagles (4-3) went back on top with two outs in the sixth when Mike Kraus reached on an error at third base, allowing Dalton Englert and Jacob Miller to cross the plate.
Pacific put the tying run at third in the top of the seventh, but Josh Wiese closed out the game with a ground ball to short.
Wiese took over in the fifth for Wyatt Schmidt, who started and went four innings, striking out seven and walking six. Schmidt allowed one earned run and four hits.
Pacific struck with a run in the first on a RBI single by Jordan Cowsert.
Sullivan came back with three in the bottom half of the inning, all with two outs. Kraus’ infield single scored Jacob Miller. Ty Wheeler was hit by a pitch and Landon Hoffman walked to load the bases. Will Allen’s grounder to short was turned into an error, allowing two more runs to score.
The Eagles opened the second with singles by Derek Evans and Miller. Evans would score from second on a double steal attempt, but Miller was tagged out at third. After a walk to Cody McKinney, Kraus came through again with two outs, roping a liner to left for a 5-1 lead.
Pacific got one of the runs back in the third. Strothkamp was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Adam Van Winkle drew a walk to make it 5-2, but Schmidt escaped the inning with a strikeout of Dylan Myers.
Schmidt battled through another jam in the fourth. He allowed singles to Matt Strong and Casey. Strong advanced to third and Casey went to second on the throw.
Schmidt struck out Cowsert looking and got Courtney to pop up. He walked Ryan Sauvage. Zac Lunn couldn’t deliver, grounding out to third.
McKinney came through in the bottom half of the inning when he lined a single to center to score Evans.
Wiese came in to relieve Schmidt in the fifth. Strothkamp led off with a double and Van Winkle was walked. Myers dropped down a bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Strong was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Casey dropped in a single to center to drive in Strothkamp. Wiese retired Cowsert on a pop up to second. Courtney extended the inning with a double to right, clearing the bases and tying the game at 6.
Mason Fleming singled to start the sixth, but Wiese stranded him without allowing the ball to leave the infield.
It set up Sullivan’s sixth inning rally. Wiese reached on an error at second. Englert was sent in to courtesy run. Evans laid down a bunt and allowed Englert to reach third. Miller drew a walk and McKinney was intentionally passed to load the bases.
Casey struck out Frye looking. On a 3-2 pitch to Kraus, he got a ground ball to third, but Lonsberry couldn’t make the play. Englert and Miller scored, giving Sullivan an 8-6 lead.
Wiese returned for the seventh and quickly retired the first two batters. Cowsert kept Pacific’s hopes alive with a single to left. Courtney reached on an error, then Sauvage hit a RBI single. With runners at second and third, Wiese got Fleming to ground out to McKinney, preserving the victory.