SEWANEE, Tenn. - After allowing two runs in the top of the ninth, the Sewanee baseball team had to rally in the bottom half to secure the series sweep of Carroll University, defeating the Pioneers, 4-3, on Sunday from Montgomery Field.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score (Game 1): Sewanee (4-0-1) 4, Carroll (0-3) 3
Winning Pitcher: Shane Smith (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Jake Nitch (0-1)
Sewanee Athletics Social Media | Twitter/Instagram: @SewaneeTigers
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HOW IT HAPPENED
-A traditional pitcher's dual in the series finale on Sunday, each team scratched across just one run in the fourth. Carroll struck first in the top half thanks to a Sewanee error.
-In the bottom half, the Tigers evened the score with a Jake Woolard sacrifice fly, bringing home Chris McNulty.
-Four more innings past and nothing was decided after eight, still tied at 1-1. That all changed in the top of the ninth. After a strikeout to start the frame, four straight Pioneers reached base, and two crossed home plate to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage as the Tigers were down to their final three outs.
-After a leadoff double by Jack Ahlum, later pinch ran for by Mikey Nardella, and a Ben Harper walk, William McAdams recorded his third sacrifice bunt of the game to push both runners into scoring position.
-As the lineup card flipped to the top of the order, the Carroll defense traded a run for an out as Jack Galanek sent a groundball to the shortstop that allowed Nardella to cross home plate. That made the contest 3-2 in favor of the visitors, and the Tigers were down to their final out.
-Jared Demkowicz put runners on the corners with a free pass, and that allowed the reigning Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Player of the Week in McNulty strolled up to the plate. The senior would lace a single into the left center field gap and bring home Harper to even the game at three runs apiece and Demkowicz moved to third.
-Following a pitching change, while Sully McCreery was at the plate, a wild pitch gave Demkowicz the opportunity to win the game, and he was successful as he slid into home plate to send the homestand crowd happy.
SEWANEE KEY STATISTICS
-Chris McNulty posted a 2-for-5 day at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.
-Ben Harper reached base four times with three walks and a base knock.
-Logan Martin punched out six batters and allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk in five innings as the starter for Sewanee.
-Shane Smith (1-0) tossed the final four innings and fanned four batters.
CARROLL KEY STATISTICS
-Dylan Callahan went 2-for-4 on the day with a run scored to lead the Pioneers offense.
-Bryce Spaulding started the finale for Carroll, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Tigers remain at home next weekend for a three-game series versus Dominican (Ill.)
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