DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The seventh-ranked Embry-Riddle baseball team got all it could handle from the V-Hawks of Viterbo University, but prevailed, improving to 8-2 in one-run games, winning 4-3 in dramatic fashion.
 
Both teams played errorless baseball through 8.2 innings, but the V-Hawks (5-7) defense crumbled in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, leading to two unearned runs and the victory for ERAU (19-3).
 
After Adam Cellini popped out and Liam Goodall struck out, the Eagles, trailing 3-2 and down to their final out as Matt Jacobs, who was 1-for-3 to that point, stepped to the plate. He grounded the ball to the shortstop, but a wide throw pulled the first baseman, Taylor Reinhardt, off the bag, giving the Blue and Gold hope. Dillon Ennis was called on to pinch hit for David Belardes and came through for the second consecutive contest.
 
Ennis, who won the game with a walk-off single the previous night against Point Park, delivered again, sending a 0-1 pitch from Viterbo starter Chris Dunn down the first base line. The ball took an Eagle bounce, bouncing over the glove of Reinhardt into right field. Connor Williams, who pinch ran for Jacobs, was headed to third as right-fielder Brandon Beech fielded the ball and his throw to third sailed high and bounced out of play, scoring Williams and advancing Ennis to third.
 
Evan Taylor relieved Dunn after the left-hander threw 131 pitches, but never threw a pitch as he was called for a balk, forcing Ennis home to end the game.
 
It wasn't easy for the Eagles as Viterbo got on the board first, scoring a run in the second on a Matt Watkins RBI single, but ERAU answered in the bottom half, as Jacobs doubled home Liam Goodall on a 1-1 pitch to tie the game.
 
Momentum seemed to swing in the V-Hawks favor in the third as Viterbo's leadoff hitter, Brad Williams, took a 0-2 pitch over the left-field wall for a two-run home run and the 3-1 lead. Eagles' starter Jon Rapose didn't have his best outing, but he kept his team in the game, stopping the bleeding at three.
 
The Blue and Gold rally started in the bottom of the eighth when Tyler Robbins singled to lead off the inning, the Eagles first hit in four frames. Jordan Johnson followed with a single and both runners advanced to second and third, respectively, on a Jeff Lemon sacrifice bunt. Kevin Lindheim then scored Robbins with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one, 3-2.
 
With the help of two errors and timely hitting in the bottom of the ninth the Eagles sent their fans home happy with the 4-3 win.
 
It was a tough luck loss for Dunn (2-1), who was superb, scattering six hits over 8.2 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, while striking out eight and walking three.
 
Benjamin-Antwan Brown (2-0) got the win for the Eagles after pitching three perfect innings of relief. Rapose pitched well and received a no-decision after tossing six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out five and walking none.
 
Dillion Ennis was the hero again finishing 1-for-1 with a run scored. Johnson collected two hits while Lindheim and Jacobs each tallied one RBI each.
 
With the win the Eagles extend their win streak to a season-high nine games and look to make it 11 as they host former Sun Conference member Edward Waters for a doubleheader at Sliwa Stadium tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.