Brewton-Parker Collapses in Ninth as Hometown Club Storms Back

Brewton-Parker Collapses in Ninth as Hometown Club Storms Back
Box Score
March 2, 2021

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – The Eagles were able to bounce back into the win column in stunning fashion on Tuesday after an error and a mental lapse by Brewton-Parker (Ga.) in the bottom of the ninth helped fuel No. 17 Reinhardt's comeback in an 8-7 walk-off victory on Ken White Baseball Field.

With the triumph, the hometown club hit double digits in positive outcomes with a 10-6 record after the visitors opened the door in the last inning following a throwing error and a fielding blunder by not touching first base on a routine play.

The rest, as they say, is history.

"Our team was long overdue for a win like this," head coach Jonathan Burton said. "They never quit… That's what I am most proud of. We are gaining confidence offensively as a group and we need to keep improving as we approach an important conference weekend. This team is getting closer, we just need to keep working."

The Eagles were behind from the opening frame as the Barons got two in their first at-bat – a homer and an RBI-single – to take a 2-0 advantage early in the matchup. Reinhardt was quiet until Dalton Turnbow got things started with a solo blast to center in the third, and before you knew it, the hosts had a 3-2 lead following a wild pitch and a run-scoring single from Andres Ugarte.

Brewton-Parker went deep again in the sixth to tie the score at 3-3, but the hosts grabbed another tally in the bottom of the frame to regain a one-run cushion after an RBI-groundout from Xavier Arnette.

Now down, 4-3, the Barons wouldn't go quietly, as they came back with a vengeance and posted four runs in the top of the seventh courtesy of an RBI-double and a pinch-hit 3-run shot to move ahead, 7-4, heading to the bottom of the frame – where the Eagles got one back (7-5) on an Albert Mora single to center.

Then Reinhardt had a flare for the dramatic in the bottom of the ninth after taking advantage of two misplays in the infield by Brewton-Parker. From there, the Eagles strategically got guys on base and brought them around after a pair of RBI-hits (Nick Sanders and Ugarte).

With the game now tied, Gianmarco Marcelletti got the ball lifted far enough to right field for Dayton Romig to tag and come home as his teammates rushed the field in celebration.

Reinhardt totaled 11 hits on the night, and the duo of Jarrett Burney and Ugarte owned three of them apiece.

Blake Rogers earned the win in relief after one inning and two strikeouts.

It's back to Appalachian Athletic Conference competition on Friday with the first contest in a three-game series with No. 21 Bryan (Tenn.).

First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

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