FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Eastern University Baseball rode a five-run fifth inning to to a 7-5 win over Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Eight Eastern pitchers threw in the win.
Starting on defense, the Eagles executed little things in the decisive fifth. With the game tied at 1-1,
Matt Bunjo came on with the bases loaded and no one out in the top of the inning. Bunjo induced a weak ground ball to third, and
Britton Lawrence threw home to get the lead runner. Bunjo struck out the next hitter before allowing a run on a bases-loaded walk and escaping with minimal damage with a strikeout.
Tyler Stanley led off the bottom of the inning with a drag bunt. The speedy outfielder beat had the throw beat, and took second on the overthrow.
Joseph Poma put down a bunt to move him along, and also beat it out. After Stanley scored on a Zach Belansek sacrifice fly,
Brad Clemens walked and Lawrence was hit by a pitch.
With the bases loaded, the Buccaneers could not walk
Timmy Gorton. Eastern's senior catcher delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-run single for his first two RBI's of the season. He now has 109 for his career and is within four of the program record held by Scott Renauro. Lawrence and Gorton then executed a double steal to put more pressure on the Maritime defense.
Freddy Yahn hit a deep fly ball to drive in Lawrence and
Liam Clarke singled in Gorton for a 6-2 lead.
Bunjo retired the first two hitters in the sixth before giving way to
Grant Fisher. Fisher pitched the seventh, and
Adam Perdue pitched the eighth.
Nick Kosenske picked up two early outs int he ninth before running into trouble.
Justin Fredericks came on to retire the final batter of the game and earn the save.
"We threw strikes and were able to wiggle out of a couple tough innings," Head Coach
Jed Morris said after the game. "
Tyler Bennett threw well to start us out, and we were able to create offense in some different ways."
The Eagles picked up a single run in the seventh when Gorton tripled to right and scored on another Yahn sacrifice fly.
The Eagles are back in action against Houghton on Friday.
