Reinhardt Steals Opener With Cavaliers Saturday

Reinhardt Steals Opener With Cavaliers Saturday

Team Stats

March 20, 2021

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – A double steal in the bottom of the eighth helped No. 23 Reinhardt squeak out a league victory over Montreat (N.C.) at home on Saturday, as the Eagles overcame a late rally from the Cavaliers to come out on top, 7-6.

The hometown team got back to .500 in Appalachian Athletic Conference play at 5-5 and is now 15-8 overall on the year.

"We were able to have some timely hits today that helped us in some big situations," head coach Jonathan Burton said. "We aren't clicking offensively the way we are capable, but the guys are staying with it and working; that's all we can ask. Tomorrow is another opportunity for us to get better and that's all we are focused on right now… Being better than we were the game or day before."

Xavier Arnette got the offensive fireworks started early in the bottom of the first with a towering 3-run blast for the early advantage over Montreat. The Cavaliers responded with a solo homer of their own to get back within 3-1, but gave away two more tallies in the bottom of the third on an RBI-double and an RBI-triple.

Now down, 5-1, Montreat began the climb back with one run in the fourth on a double-play, and then the visitors got another in the top of the seventh on a homer to left field to bring the score to 5-3.

Devin Symlar hit a solo shot in the bottom of the stanza to get the run right back and put the Eagles back up by three at 6-3, but it wouldn't hold, as the Cavaliers got a 2-RBI double and a run-scoring single to tie the game at 6-6 in the top of the eighth.

Back-to-back walks would spell doom for the visitors in the bottom of the eighth, however, as the Eagles escaped with a tally on the aforementioned steals to take the opener.

Arnette was 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

Alex Watkins got the win after surrendering the lead late on 1.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts.

The series wraps up tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at Noon.

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