Marcerio Allen Saves the Day for Final KCU Series Game

Waleska, GA - Reinhardt Baseball was able to get their 20th win of the season and extend the AAC record to 15-3 by sweeping the Knights of Kentucky Christian, however, the Knights made sure this one was not easy for the Eagles.  Despite having a solid 4 to 1 lead after six innings and a 10 to 3 lead after the seventh, the Eagles would let this lead slip allowing the Knights to take the lead 11-10 going into the bottom of the ninth. Reinhardt went on to win the game 14-1 from the hot bat of Marcerio Allen.  Allen's second home run of the day was a three-run homer that took the lead back for the Eagles. They went on to win the final game 14 to 11.

Brett Allen got the start in game three and looked magnificent on the mound.  He held KCU to just one run over six solid innings.  He recorded 5 strikeouts and only allowed 4 hits total.  The Eagles appeared to be headed to their third win, but things got a little messy once the relief pitchers entered the game in the seventh inning. Hunter Paulsen pitched the entire seventh inning and gave up 2 runs in the inning, but the Eagles still had the lead 4-3 at the end.  Cobey Allison came in for the eighth and this is where things really began to slide for Reinhardt. Allen was only able to get one batter out and then gave up 4 earned runs following the out. Eli Clotfelter entered the game for Allison, but he ran into the same issues by only getting one KCU batter out and giving up another 4 runs. After the 8 runs were tacked on during the eighth inning, KCU took the lead for the first time in the series.

Adam Christopher came in to finish out the eighth and he was able to get things under control for the Eagles.  He came in to get the last out in the eighth inning on one pitch and then finished out the ninth in the same fashion. His stats are all zeros - 0 strikeouts, 0 hits, and 0 runs - which was exactly what the Eagles needed because in the bottom of the eighth - the Eagles were able to score 4 more runs to put them on top 14 to 11.

Reinhardt (GA)Pitchers

Offensively, Marcerio Allen and Jarrett Burney got things going for the Eagles. The run output was not like the previous day until the final three innings of the game. Allen had two home runs which were both 3-run homers to right center field. He was 2 for 5 in the game with 6 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

Burney ended up going 3 for 4 in the game with 3 RBIs and one run scored. Also defensively, he looked great covering the hot corner keeping the ball in the infield and making the long throws to first base. Right Fielder, Tucker Zdunich, did not have his best day at the plate - but he was able to get a double clearing the ball over the Knight's right fielder.  Left Fiedler, Jamel Rookard, had a triple in the fourth inning for the Eagles scoring Adrian Vargas.

The Eagles had to struggle through the ending of this game to get the win, but good teams will be tested like this when their game is a little off. The middle relief pitchers had a tough time in the seventh and eighth innings, but the offense made sure they gave pitchers the room needed to pick up the win.

The upcoming schedule for the week has Reinhardt playing at home on Tuesday versus Point University, however, there is bad weather in the forecast which could alter the game.  At the end of the week, the Eagles will be hosting the #1 team in the NAIA - Southeastern University. Friday is the doubleheader day with game one starting at 1 pm.  Saturday will be the single game of the series.