Hanging by a Thread, Zdunich's Walk-Off Sends Eagles to the FInals

Kingsport, TN - Reinhardt Baseball had an unusual task of playing an opponent three times in one tournament. The Eagles played Milligan Unversity in their game two of the AAC Tournament winning comfortably, 5-2, however, the Buffaloes would come back to face Reinhardt once more on Friday evening knocking off the Eagles 7-3.  This put both teams with one loss each in the tournament and they once again had to face each other on Saturday and this time - the loser heads home.

Tennessee Wesleyan and Montreat University played the first game of the day on Saturday with the same thing on the line and the Bulldogs came out on top punching their ticket to the AAC FInals.  Reinhardt was scheduled to play directly after the Bulldog-Cavalier matchup, but a weather delay moved the game to Saturday evening. 

Brett Allen was called on to start the Saturday game for the Eagles taking off his usual reliever hat for this one.  The Eagles would need his arm for a chance to compete in the Championship game.  Allen had a good game pitching eight solid innings.  He struck out 8 batters and scattered 5 hits over the innings.  He did have 4 runs against him, but the bats did a decent job of keeping the Eagles in striking distance which helped lead to the dramatic ending.

Hunter Paulsen and Ben Medley would be called upon to help Allen out after the eighth inning, however, each had a few issues that allowed Milligan to tie the game in the ninth inning and then take an 8-6 lead in the tenth.  What was once a 6-4 lead in the beginning of the ninth ended up being an 8-6 deficit going into the bottom of the tenth.

Reinhardt (GA)Pitchers

The tenth inning was Tucker Zdunich's best season moment (so far).  Here is the timeline:

 • Jacob Profit led off with a single to second base.

 • Two batters struck out after Profit's single leaving the Eagles to just one out.

 • Jarrett Burney was walked putting a runner on 1st and 2nd.

 • Brock Weiss was put in to run for Burney.

 • With two outs and the game on the line, Tucker Zdunich came to the plate and smashed the game-winning, three-run homer over the right field wall!

Zdunich finished the game going 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.  He has had some great moments wearing an Eagle uniform, but this is probably the top and is one of the best plays in Reinhardt Baseball history. 

This team keeps on ticking when you think they have no shot.  Don't sleep on this team!

The AAC Championship is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 2 pm in Kingsport, TN with the games being streamed on the AAC Sports Network and the Southeast Sports Network on YouTube.