Scala's Walk-Off Single Helps Lions Defeat Tusculum
Tommy Scala’s walk-off single capped a two-run ninth inning as Mars Hill earned a 6-5 victory over Tusculum on Saturday at Henderson Field. The Lions and Pioneers were scheduled to play a seven-inning game, but rain forced the cancellation of that contest.
MARS HILL, N.C.- Tommy Scala's walk-off single capped a two-run ninth inning as Mars Hill earned a 6-5 victory over the Tusculum Pioneers on Saturday at Henderson Field. The Lions and Pioneers were scheduled to play a seven-inning game, but rain forced the cancellation of that contest. Mars Hill ends the season with an 18-27 overall record and an 11-15 mark in the South Atlantic Conference.
David King put the Lions on the board in the first inning with a solo home run, his second of the season. The Lions added to the lead in the second inning as Dalton Eisenbath led off with a single and scored on a Shawn Weber double for a 2-0 advantage after two innings.
Tusculum evened the game in the third on a Jeremiah Tullidge double that scored John Topoleski and Nick Rodriguez. The Pioneers took the lead thanks to a three-run fourth inning. Scott Gibson was hit by a pitch, followed by a Jalen Shuffler free pass. Topoleski hit his first home run of the season to put Tusculum on top 5-2.
In the Mars Hill seventh, Shawn Weber reached on a one-out single, followed by a Caleb Harbin single. Pinch runner Marc Marsh and Harbin scored on a Tommy Scala double to pull the Lions to within 5-4.
Avery Womble led off the Mars Hill ninth with a pinch-hit double before being replaced by pinch runner Ky'Rawn Whitfield. Whitfield was retired at third on a fielder's choice that allowed Harbin to reach. With Dustin Jones running for Harbin, Evan Rogers singled to advance Jones to second. Jones stole third base and scored on a passed ball that allowed Rogers to reach second. Scala ended the game with a single to right field that plated Rogers.
Weber went two-for-three with a single, double and an RBI. Scala went two-for-five with a single, double and three RBIs. Harbin went one-for-two with a single and run scored. King went one-for-three with a single, run scored and RBI. Eisenbath went one-for-three with a run scored. Womble went one-for-one with a double.
Bradley Moffitt earned the win, needing one pitch to record the final out of the ninth. Dale Innes allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in his final collegiate start. Bailey Christie threw 3.1 hitless and scoreless innings of relief, walking two batters with two strikeouts.
Sivyer took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits with a walk and strikeout in 1.2 innings. Starter Christian Raasch allowed four runs on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
Mars Hill honored senior pitchers Dale Innes, Bradley Moffit and Kevin Searcy following the game. The trio combined for six wins, five complete games and 100 strikeouts.