Pioneers Take Two From EC Baseball in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After splitting with Wisconsin-Platteville in Memphis on Saturday, the Eureka baseball team dropped a pair against the Pioneers on Sunday.
The Pioneers came back after trailing briefly and won Game 1, 8-5. Then, in Game 2, they came from behind again, scoring five runs late and securing a 12-10 victory over the Red Devils.
The Red Devils are now 5-6 on the season. They'll have Monday off before continuing the spring break trip with an evening doubleheader at Centre on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Game 1: Wisconsin-Platteville 8, Eureka 5
Eureka fell into a 4-0 hole before it could get the offense going on Sunday.
Finally, in the third inning, Kyle Christman (Peru, Ill./La Salle-Peru) drove in two with a single to left with two on, putting the Red Devils on the board.
Braxten Ary (Green Valley, Ill./Midwest Central) delivered a 3-run home run in the fourth to give EC a 5-4 advantage.
The problem for the Red Devils was that the offense dried up after that.
And, while EC went scoreless for the next five innings, Wisconsin-Platteville tied the game in the fifth, took the lead in the sixth and added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh.
The Red Devils notched 10 hits in the game. Ary went 3-for-5 for the maroon gold. Mike Redmond (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) went 2-for-2 with three walks and Dean Moir (Coal City, Ill./Coal City) added two hits as well.
David Throw (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) took the loss for EC after conceding what ended up being the winning run in the sixth. The starter, Brock Pettit (Ashland, Ill./A-C Central), allowed five runs on eight hits and one walk in five innings while striking out four.
Aaron Schwab (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings of relief. The freshman also had three strikeouts.
Game 2: Wisconsin-Platteville 12, Eureka 10
Eureka held a 9-7 lead heading into the ninth inning, but Wisconsin-Platteville scored five runs on three hits and two errors to take a 12-9 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, EC's Nathan Garard (Gibson City, Ill./Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) led off with a bunt single, and Jelby Cheramie (Lockport, La./South Laforche) doubled to drive him in and make it a two-run game. Cheramie advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out, but Platteville got a strikeout and a fly out to end the game and the series.
It was a back-and-forth finale that included five lead changes.
Christman drove in two runs with a double in the first inning to give EC a 2-1 lead. Then, after conceding five runs over the next two innings, the Red Devils posted back-to-back three-run rallies.
Later, Jake Carter (Carlinville, Ill./Carlinville) had an RBI groundout in the sixth inning to give EC a 9-6 lead.
It stayed that way until the Pioneers' final rally in the ninth.
Cheramie went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a double and a walk. Christman went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.
In his first collegiate start, Luke Carlson (Granville, Ill./Putnam County) allowed seven runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out three in five innings.
After that, Jared Smith (Henry, Ill./Henry-Senachwine) turned in three scoreless innings. Mason Diederich (Washington, Ill./Washington) allowed three earned runs on three hits and two errors while striking out two in the eventful final frame.