Dion’s Two homers, Seven RBIs Power Reinhardt Past Freed-Hardeman

HENDERSON, Tenn. - Reinhardt broke open a back-and-forth game with a five-run sixth inning and another five-run burst in the eighth, rolling past Freed-Hardeman 18-8 on Tuesday afternoon at Five Wells Field. Louis Dion delivered the decisive swings for the Eagles, hitting two three-run home runs and finishing with seven RBIs as Reinhardt piled up 18 runs on 14 hits.

The Eagles struck first with a four-run opening inning. Dion capped that surge with a three-run homer to right-center for a 4-0 lead, but Freed-Hardeman answered quickly with three runs in the bottom half, trimming the margin to 4-3. Reinhardt added two more in the third, including a solo home run from Jackson Rains to left-center, and carried a 6-3 edge before the hosts rallied again. Freed-Hardeman tied the game at 6 in the fourth, helped by Alejandro Diaz's solo homer to right as part of a two-run inning.

Reinhardt regained control for good in the sixth. After scoring once in the fifth to move in front 7-6, the Eagles erupted for five runs in the next inning. Dion delivered the biggest blow again, this time launching a three-run homer to right field that pushed the lead to 12-6. That inning gave Reinhardt enough breathing room after Freed-Hardeman had repeatedly chipped away through the middle frames.

The offense stayed active throughout the afternoon. Juan Pablo Morales finished with two doubles, three RBIs and two walks, including a two-out, bases-clearing double to center in the eighth that stretched the lead to 17-8. Cannon Dorsey added three hits, scored three times, and drove in one run, while Rains scored three runs, homered and contributed two RBIs. Brock Sisson added the game's final run with a ground-rule RBI double to right-center in the ninth.

Reinhardt's lineup combined power and patience, drawing nine walks, collecting five doubles and three home runs, and adding five hit batters to keep pressure on Freed-Hardeman's pitching staff. The Eagles left nine on base but consistently produced timely swings, especially in the sixth and eighth innings. Freed-Hardeman finished with eight runs on seven hits, including four doubles and Diaz's home run, and also worked six walks.

On the mound, the Eagles went with seven pitchers in the game. Ryan Mahoney got the start and pitched two full innings, but gave up three earned runs. Lefty Hayes Bryan picked up the win for Reinhardt, pitching just one inning. A notable pitching performance came from the big flame-thrower, Austin Puett, who pitched two innings and allowed only two to cross the plate. He led the Eagles with five strikeouts, pushing the upper 90s on hit pitches.

Reinhardt (GA)Pitchers

Next up for the Eagles is the weekend AAC series at Columbia International in Columbia, South Carolina.

photo courtesy of Hunter Paulsen, Graduate Assistant, Reinhadt Athletics