Baseball team loses at AAC foe Bluefield with second contest suspended by rain when tied; clubs to complete three-game conference series on Tuesday
In the first contest, the Ramblin' Rams pushed a run across in the bottom of the second inning to open the scoring. Bluefield added three runs in the fourth inning and another run in the sixth.
The hosts ended with a slim 6-5 edge in hits and Reinhardt was guilty of three errors that led to three unearned runs for the Rams. The Eagles left seven runners on base and Bluefield three.
At the plate for Reinhardt, Don DiPetta (walk), Billy King (sacrifice hit) and Michael Lonati each went 1-for-2.
Taylor Smith was the starting and losing pitcher for the Eagles after going five innings and allowing two earned runs. Freshman Trent Sheffield pitched one scoreless inning, giving up no hits.
After scoring twice in the top of the first inning and three times in the fifth, Reinhardt got out to a 5-0 lead in the second game. The Rams rallied, however, with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and two more in the sixth, tying the contest before heavy rain started falling and it was stopped at the start of the seventh.
So far, Bluefield has nine hits to the Eagles' eight. Reinhardt again made three errors, leading to three unearned runs for the hosts. The Rams have stranded 10 base runners and the Eagles six.
Freshman Phillip Bates is 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs for Reinhardt while Lonati is 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. King also has two hits in three at-bats with a run scored.
Ricky Johnson was the Eagles' starter on the mound and allowed two earned runs with two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Kendric McDonald relieved Johnson before freshman Jeff Roberts threw the final 1 1/3 innings, surrendering one hit and no earned runs with one strikeout.
As of now, Reinhardt is 12-20-1 overall and 5-5-1 in the AAC while Bluefield stands at 10-20-1 overall, including 2-8-1 in conference play.