Baseball team cannot hold leads in two AAC losses at No. 11-ranked Union (Ky.), hosts West Georgia in Tuesday's Senior Day game
Reinhardt jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first game with three runs in the first inning and four in the second. Union surged ahead 8-7 with two runs in each of the second and third innings, and four in the fourth. The Bulldogs increased their advantage to 11-7 after scoring once in the fifth inning and twice sixth before the Eagles tallied one run in the top of the seventh.
Reinhardt had an 11-10 edge in hits, but was guilty of four errors that led to five unearned runs for the hosts. Union made just one error and each squad left seven runners on base.
At the plate for the Eagles, Don DiPetta went 2-for-2 with a home run, two walks, two RBIs and two runs scored while Jay Huffman was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. Josh Wilson had two hits in four at-bats with two RBIs while Michael Lonati finished 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Freshman Tucker Adams chipped in with a double and an RBI.
Ryan McDowell was Reinhardt's starting and losing pitcher after going 3 1/3 innings. Three Eagles made appearances out of the bullpen.
In the second contest, the Bulldogs registered two runs in the first inning but a six-run sixth and another run in the seventh put Reinhardt up 7-2. Union pushed three runs across in each of the seventh and ninth innings, pulling out the win with a walk-off home run.
Again the Eagles outhit the hosts, this time by a slim 13-12 margin. Reinhardt, which committed two of the game's five errors, stranded 10 base runners and the Bulldogs seven.
Freshman Andy Pringle went 3-for-5 with a double, driving in a run and scoring another for Reinhardt while Wilson ended 3-for-5 with a run scored. Zach Kles was 2-for-5 while Lonati doubled, knocked in two runs and scored twice.
On the mound for the Eagles, Jake Waters started and threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs with two strikeouts. Freshman CJ Oliva pitched the final two innings and absorbed the loss.
Reinhardt is 15-26-1 overall and 8-8-1 in AAC play while Union is 37-8 overall, including 15-2 in the conference. The Eagles host the NCAA Division II University of West Georgia Wolves on Tuesday in their annual Senior Day game. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Ken White Baseball Field with Reinhardt's seven senior players being honored after the contest.