Trailing Concordia 9-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, it seemed as if history was doomed to yet again repeat itself for the Louisiana College Wildcats.
The Wildcats' season had been ended by the Tornados each of the last two season in the first round of the ASC Tournament. However, all those frustrations were forgotten as LC junior catcher Kyle Feazell's flyball fell just in front of Concordia's Brent Schaekel in centerfield to score Colt Ducote and Kade Van Norman and give the Wildcats the 13-12 win in 10 innings.
It a furious comeback that saw LC score 12 runs in their final five trips to the plate, keeping their hopes and dreams alive for an ASC Championship.
The Tornadoes jumped out ahead 9-1 after scoring one run in the first and second innings, six runs in the third, and another in the top of the sixth.
But the Wildcats, who have done so many times this season, crawled back into the game with three run innings in the sixth and seventh to make the score 9-7, highlighted by Cole Bagbey's RBI triple to centerfield in the sixth and Mark Riendeau's RBI double in the seventh.
Jacob Trahan and Tripp Davis came out of the bullpen and combined to get the Wildcats out of a jam in the eighth inning and shut Concordia's bats down in the ninth inning to keep LC within reach headed to their final at-bat in the bottom of the ninth.
Singles by Cary Myers and Cole Bagbey, along with a Van Norman walk loaded the bases for Riendeau to draw LC closer 9-8. Matt Scott, who hit a dramatic walk-off home run earlier in the season against Mississippi College, came through once again with a two out RBI single with two strikes to score Bagbey and tie the game 9-9.
Concordia would seemingly out the game out of reach in the top of the 10th inning with three runs by way of two hits, three walks, and a hit by pitch which put the Tornadoes ahead 12-9.
LC would have one last answer, however, as the Wildcats loaded the bases with no outs after Taylor Beavers and Jake Hillman walked on eight straight pitches to start the inning. Cary Myers then collected his fifth hit of the game on a bunt single down the first base line.
Colt Ducote would make the score 12-10 with an RBI fielder's choice to third base. Van Norman followed that two batters later with an RBI single to left field to put the Wildcats within one 12-11.
Riendeau then walked to load the bases again for Feazell, who delivered the game winning blow on an 0-1 pitch, propelling the Wildcats to their first ever win in the ASC Championship Tournament and eliminating Concordia from the postseason.
The Wildcats were led at the plate by Myers (5-for-6, 2 runs), Bagbey (3-for-6, 3 runs, 2 RBI), and Riendeau (3-for-5, 4 RBI). Sophomore pitcher Brand Bignar picked up the win, the first of his career, after getting two huge outs in the top of 10th inning to end the Tornado threat.
LC (25-18) will face the loser of Saturday night's Texas-Tyler vs. Texas Lutheran matchup in the Saturday nightcap, originally scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Irwin Field in Tyler, TX.