March 14, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - An extra inning show-down was played with nothing short of drama as the No. 18 Embry-Riddle Eagles woke up their bats late in the game to take a ten-inning victory from the No. 21 Missouri Baptist Spartans on Thursday evening, 9-8.

 

The Spartans took an early lead in the game, outhitting and outscoring the Eagles 11 to five and eight to two, respectively through the eighth inning. Missouri Baptist opening pitcher, Derik Drewett threw a solid five innings, picking up six strikeouts and allowing two runs on four hits.

 

Eric Ogden removed the egg from the Eagles score in the bottom of the fourth inning as he hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field fence. Aaron Tea scored on a passed ball in the fifth to give the Blue and Gold their second run.

 

Spartan's reliever Derek Mayer could not keep the win in the hands of Drewett, coming into the game in the ninth inning as he hit the first batter that started a rally for the Eagles.

 

Kyle Albright was hit on the first pitch thrown by Mayer and ran around the bases to score on a double into left center by Colin Gray in the following at-bat. Branden Roper Hubbert followed with a single and Tea was then walked to load the bases. Tommy Cauley, who did not play in Tuesday's game, hit a drive to the gap between left and center to drive in two runs and putting the tying run at the plate, in Josh Menchaca.

 

Menchaca was hit by a pitch again loading the bases. Billy Hootman pinch hit as the next batter, and grounded out on a bouncer to short, which allowed Tea to score and moved Cauley and Menchaca into scoring position. James Kissinger hit a single over the short stops head in the following at-bat, scoring Cauley. Menchaca would score on an error by the catcher to tie the game. Two batters later the bases were loaded again, but the Spartans were able to turn a double play to end the Eagles run and move the game into extra innings.

 

Aaron Varnum came in as relief in the tenth inning, with one man on base. MBU put fear into the eyes of the Eagle fans as they put two men on with no outs. Varnum struck out Riley Gavello before loading the bases. He pitched his way out of the tight situation by striking out Scott Talbert and forcing Eric Walterhouse to ground out in a fielders choice to second base.

 

Roper-Hubbert led off the bottom of the tenth with a Texas-Leaguer single into centerfield. He was moved to third on two consecutive infield single bunts by Tea and Cauley. One out later Alex Guzman popped out to centerfield, sacrificing himself for the win, on an out that allowed Matt Steele to slide across home plate after tagging up at third. Steele was put into pinch run for Roper-Hubbert after the first out was made.

 

The Eagles picked up 14 hits in the contest, eight of which came in the final two innings. Kissinger and Ogden both were three for five in the game with one RBI. Ogden also scored one run. Roper-Hubbert, Tea and Cauley all picked up two hits on the evening. Cauley had two RBi's and a run, while Tea scored two runs and Roper-Hubbert jogged across home plate one time.

 

The Blue and Gold will suit up again for their third and fourth games of their ten-day ten-game home stint, on Saturday as they host St. Xavier in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The game will be played at Sliwa Stadium.