Eagles Go Out in 4th Place of AAC
KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The Eagles were in the "win or go home" stage after losing to Tennessee Wesleyan on Wednesday. The Eagles would have to play two games on Thursday and had to win them both. The first game was against Brenau University and the second would be against Truett McConnell. Tennessee Wesleyan would beat Bryan on Thursday between the two Reinhardt games and they moved on to the Championship game. They can do no worse than second place.
By winning the first game of the day against Brenau, 9-1, the Eagles would move on to the last game on Thursday afternoon against Truett McConnell. This game would not go as well as the first game and the Eagles would be put out of the tournament losing, 7-0.
Ally Andriano would get her 18th win of the season in game one as she would strike out 3 and only allow 4 hits and one run against Brenau. Alanna Dunson would lead the Eagles in hitting going 2 for 3 with a double. Alexis Teems, Lauren Parker, and Ansley Evans would lead the Eagles with 2 RBIs each. Most of the runs for the Eagles would come in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fifth, the Eagles were able to get the necessary eight-run lead for the "run-rule" to be enforced for a shortened game.
In the second game, the Eagles faced a strong Truett McConnell team who had a good morning winning against Point 13-5, which was stopped short as well. Truett McConnell's strong pitching would get the best of the Eagles as they would not be able to generate any runs in the game. Lauren Parker did get a triple in the game but was left stranded at third when the Eagles could not get her home.
Ally Andriano would get the start in game two as well, but she could not get it going like she had earlier and the day before when she looked great. Truett McConnell was able to rough up the Eagles in the top of the second inning scoring six runs and this would be the difference in the game. Bella Krauth would come in to finish the second inning for Andriano and she was able to hold the Bears scoreless until she gave up one run in the fourth. Whitney Shepherd would come in for Krauth after this to finish up the game with no runs scored and only allowing one hit. Krauth would have 3 strikeouts while she was in and Shepherd would have two strikeouts.
The game would end with the Eagles going out with no runs scored leaving the tournament to Tennessee Wesleyan, Bryan, and Truett McConnell to battle it out on Friday. Tennessee Wesleyan will be able to sit back and watch Bryan and Truett McConnell go against each other at 11 am. The loser goes home and the winner moves on to the championship game, however, either one will have to beat Tennessee Wesleyan twice to win the AAC Championship.
Below are the game listings for the week and for the Championship Game on Friday afternoon. (from AAC Website)
https://www.aacsports.com/sports/sball/2021-22/releases/20220428uavi74
Tournament Schedule
Monday, April 25 - Single-Elimination Games
Game 1 - No. 8 Columbia (21-17) def. No. 9 Union (16-25), 7-6 (BOX) - Union eliminated
Game 2 - No. 7 Point (31-18) def. No. 10 Kentucky Christian (18-21), 1-0 (BOX) - Kentucky Christian eliminated
Tuesday, April 26 - Double-Elimination Through the Rest of the Tournament
Game 3 - No. 4 Truett McConnell (29-22) def. No. 5 Brenau (27-15), 2-0 (BOX)
Game 4 - No. 1 Bryan (29-14) def. No. 8 Columbia (21-18), 4-2 (BOX)
Game 5 - No. 2 Reinhardt (33-13) def. No. 7 Point (31-19), 2-1 (BOX)
Game 6 - No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (31-7) vs. No. 6 Milligan (23-14), 4-1 (BOX)
Wednesday, April 27
Game 7 - No. 5 Brenau (28-15) def. No. 8 Columbia (21-19), 3-2 (BOX) - Columbia eliminated
Game 8 - No. 7 Point (32-19) def. No. 6 Milligan (23-15), 2-1 (BOX) - Milligan eliminated
Game 9 - No. 1 Bryan (30-14) def. No. 4 Truett McConnell (29-23), 2-1 (BOX)
Game 10 - No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (32-7) def. No. 2 Reinhardt (33-14), 2-0 (BOX)
Thursday, April 28
Game 11 - No. 4 Truett McConnell (30-23) def. No. 7 Point (32-20), 13-5 in 5 innings (BOX) - Point eliminated
Game 12 - No. 2 Reinhardt (34-14) def. No. 5 Brenau (28-16), 9-1 in 5 innings (BOX) - Brenau eliminated
Game 13 - No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (33-7) def. No. 1 Bryan (30-15), 3-0 (BOX)
Game 14 - No. 4 Truett McConnell (31-23) def. No. 2 Reinhardt (34-15), 7-0 (BOX) - Reinhardt eliminated
Friday, April 29
Game 15 - No. 1 Bryan (30-15) vs. No. 4 Truett McConnell (31-23), 11 am
Game 16 - Championship Game 1 - No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (33-7) vs. Game 15 Winner, 1 pm
Game 17 - Championship Game 2 - Game 16 Winner vs. Game 16 Loser, 3 pm (if necessary)
Tickets are available and can be purchased by clicking here. https://www.aacsports.com/Tickets
If unable to attend in person, all games will be streamed live online. To watch, click here. https://portal.stretchinternet.com/aac/