Phoenix Take Series Following Victory in Waleska

Phoenix Take Series Following Victory in Waleska
Box Score
February 6, 2021

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – The rubber match in the season-opening series and another one-run outcome went the way of the visitors on Saturday afternoon, as the Phoenix again pulled ahead in the middle innings and held off a Reinhardt comeback in a 6-5 final in favor of Cumberland (Tenn.).

The No. 17 Eagles are now 1-2 as it looks ahead to the second week of competition on the diamond.

"Tough day for us offensively as we certainly would have liked to cash in on more opportunities, but credit their team for making the adjustments needed to keep us from scoring," head coach Jonathan Burton said. "This was a competitive series and both teams will continue to get better, but it was good to get on a baseball field and play someone else. This series will help us grow moving forward.

"On a side note, I have a lot of respect for Coach Hunt and Cumberland; that's really where my thoughts and prayers are right now. He means a lot to me personally and I wish him nothing but the best as he finishes his last season as a head coach."

Jacob Profit doubled to right and brought in two runners to score while opening up a 2-0 advantage in the second inning. The lead would evaporate, however, in the very next frame as the Phoenix touched home plate four times in the third stanza – highlighted by a 3-run home run to take the lead, 4-2.

The hole for Reinhardt got even deeper in the fourth after a solo blast made the score 5-2.

A Gianmarco Marcelletti RBI-triple in the bottom of the fifth got the deficit back to two runs (5-3), but he was left stranded in scoring position after a popout. Cumberland seemed to be able to answer the call all weekend, and did so again in the sixth, after it got back the run immediately on a single to right to get back to a three-run lead at 6-3.

Andres Ugarte tried to get a rally going in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI-double, but again the squad couldn't come through with enough timely hits. Marcelletti helped the Eagles set the stage for another dramatic finish with a run-scoring knock to left in the bottom of the ninth, but another groundout – the third of its kind in the frame – ended the comeback attempt for the second-straight contest.

Collectively, the hometown squad managed nine hits in the defeat. Ugarte, Marcelletti and Profit all had two apiece.

Ryan Semon and Alex Watkins combined for nine Ks in relief on the mound.

The club now has a few days to prepare for the NAIA Southeast Rumble, which will be played at both Ken White Baseball Field and LakePoint (neutral contests), on Feb. 11-13. 

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