Eagles Run Away From No. 9 Indiana Tech, 13-4
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
Photo Courtesy of Greg Spell/G-RoxPhotos.com
EMERSON, Ga. – LakePoint Sporting Community has nearly become the adopted second home for Reinhardt baseball in 2020 after more rain in the area pushed Tuesday's game with No. 9 Indiana Tech to Emerson.
The sudden change in venue didn't seem to bother the Eagles on this day, as they poured in 11 total runs in the seventh and eighth combined – including a seven-spot in the former frame – to run away from the Warriors, 13-4.
"Big day for our boys," head coach Jonathan Burton said. "We beat a really good team today and will play another tough team tomorrow. We need these games, and we need to understand what it takes to beat these types of programs.
"I know the guys are tired, but this is what tournament play is like, and we need to experience this in the season to understand how to overcome adversity. Rinse, rewash and repeat; that's the cycle right now."
Indiana Tech, who was coming off a loss to Cumberlands (Ky.) earlier in the day, got on the board first in the top of the third inning on an RBI-groundout and a 2-run blast. The hometown squad got two back immediately in the bottom of the frame compliments of a wild pitch and a single to left from Nick Sanders (3-2).
The scoreboard would be silent until another homer, a solo shot, in the top of the seventh gave the Warriors a 4-2 advantage. Five hits and seven runs later, Reinhardt exploded in come-from-behind style.
Highlights in the at-bat included a trio of RBI-singles, a 3-run double from Ben Heideman and multiple pitching changes from the opposition.
Gianmarco Marcelletti (4-for-4, 3 runs and 2 RBIs) brought home two additional teammates on a ringing 2-bagger to right-center in the eighth, and he would later score as well following a miscue at the dish.
The Eagles – who totaled 16 hits – would tally one more just for good measure. Nine student-athletes scratched across a knock on the day, with five players notching multiple hits in the triumph.
Gavin Scaggs got the win in relief after coming in for Nate Richardson, who went six innings and allowed four runs while striking out four as well.
Tomorrow's game has also been moved up due to rain, as Reinhardt hosts No. 11 Cumberlands at 2 p.m. at the same facility.
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