Eagles Continue to Stumble in Tennessee
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
PULASKI, Tenn. – The slide continued for the Eagles on Wednesday as the RedHawks of Martin Methodist (Tenn.) were able to protect Bobby Walker Field with double-digit runs in a 10-7 victory over visiting 17th-ranked Reinhardt.
The hometown team is now 28-14 after dropping four-straight decisions.
"I don't have a magic wand to fix this," head coach Jonathan Burton said. "If people want to blame me, that's fine. I can handle that as the head coach. But, let's be real here… There has to be some accountability taken by our players too.
"I can't hit, pitch or field. These guys are prepared, coached and are taken care of; we just need to find our passion again to WIN. Unfortunately, right now we are just showing up to play and there is a big difference. I hope it comes tomorrow and Friday because we are at a pivotal point in our season. if we want to have any hope of being in a position to play for an opening round, these next six games will decide a lot for us."
An RBI-single and two sacrifice flies put three on the board early for the Eagles in the first, but the lead evaporated quickly with five runs scored in the bottom of the frame from Martin Methodist – highlighted by a bases-loaded walk and a 3-run homer to left.
TJ Worley got his team back within one at 5-4 in the top of the second, but the hosts added a couple more tallies in their at-bat in the third on a SAC fly and RBI-single for a 7-4 advantage. The deficit would then grow by three (10-4) after the seventh and eighth, where the RedHawks got a run-scoring single and another blast – a 2-run shot.
The Eagles scratched across three runs in the top of the ninth, including a 2-RBI double from Gianmarco Marcelletti, but it wasn't enough.
Marcelletti and Andres Ugarte both had a pair of hits in the loss.
The final home series of the regular season begins tomorrow afternoon with the Buffaloes of Milligan (Tenn.).
First pitch is at 4 p.m.
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