SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Embry-Riddle baseball team concluded its fifth-consecutive day of play with an 8-5 win over Savannah State on Tuesday. The Eagles (10-12) improved to 8-0 all-time against the Tigers (15-6).
After a pitcher's duel in yesterday's 1-0 win against Grand Valley State, the Eagle bats showed life against Savannah State, roughing up the Tigers for five runs in the first three innings.
However, it was Savannah State who broke into the run column first with three singles and a double in the first inning to score two.
In the second, production came from the bottom of Embry-Riddle's order with RBI singles from
Nick Hoffman and
Max Law to score
Andrew Martinez and
Kevin Vittoria and tie the contest at 2-2.
Savannah State pulled back ahead by one run in the bottom of the inning with an additional three base knocks, but the Eagles immediately responded in the third with a two-RBI double from
Josh Reynolds to tack on two more runs to Embry-Riddle's total.
Unfortunately, the 5-3 lead was short-lived as a two-run blast by the Tigers in the bottom of the third evened things up.
J.C. Carrell then settled in on the mound. From the fourth through seventh innings, he allowed only one hit to keep Savannah State from adding any runs. Following five scoreless frames, the Eagle offense took advantage of a prime scoring opportunity in the ninth. With two outs and nobody on, the next three Embry-Riddle batters were walked to load the bases.
Garrett Bogart was inserted to pinch hit, and the decision paid off as the junior ripped a pitch into right field to score Reynolds and Vittoria. Soon after,
Tyler Castelli touched home on a wild pitch to give the Eagles some added cushion in their 8-5 lead.
The Tigers attempted to mount a comeback in the ninth with the first two batters singling to get on base, but reliever
Joe Balsam induced a pop out and a game-ending double play to secure the win for Embry-Riddle and his third save of the season.
Hoffman and
Zach Coldsnow picked up a pair of hits on the afternoon for the Eagles. Martinez and Vittoria led in runs scored (2) while Bogart and Reynolds notched the most RBI (2).
The pitcher of record was
Tyler Stufano. His unblemished inning of relief in the eight gave him his first victory of the season.
The Eagles receive some much-needed rest before traveling to Pensacola, Florida, to face West Florida for a three-game series beginning Friday, March 18 at 7 p.m.
