Baseball team collects 11-5 victory over AAC foe Montreat, on road to face No. 2-ranked Lee on Tuesday

March 20, 2011

WALESKA, Ga. -- On Sunday afternoon in Appalachian Athletic Conference play, the Reinhardt University baseball team collected an 11-5 victory over the visiting Montreat (N.C.) College Cavaliers at Ken White Baseball Field.

Montreat took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before Reinhardt posted two runs in the second. The Cavaliers tied the game in the third inning and went ahead 4-2 with a two-run fourth. The Eagles responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and three in the fifth before scoring single runs in each of the seventh and eighth to establish an 11-4 advantage. The guests capped the scoring with a run in the ninth inning.

The winners outhit Montreat 11-4 but were guilty of four of the contest's seven errors. The Cavaliers left eight runners on base and Reinhardt seven.

Leading the Eagles' offense was Don DiPetta, who went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, walk and four runs scored. Jay Huffman went 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs while Zach Kles ended 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs scored. Freshman Tucker Adams finished 1-for-1 while Brett Flick provided a two-run single. Billy King added a run-producing double, walked and scored.

Taylor Smith was Reinhardt's starting pitcher and went four innings. Freshman Jeff Roberts garnered the win in relief after throwing 4 2/3 innings and allowing just one hit and one unearned run with two strikeouts. Chris Fletcher got the final out with the bases loaded.

The Eagles improve to 9-15 overall and 3-3 in AAC play while Montreat slips to 8-13 overall and is also 3-3 in the conference. Reinhardt is on the road for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday when facing the Lee University Flames, who are ranked second nationally in the NAIA. Game one is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Cleveland, Tenn.