Bridgewater College scored 10 runs in the top of the ninth
inning Saturday to erase a seven-run deficit and defeat Greensboro
College, 16-13, in the USAS-ODAC Spring Challenge at War Memorial
Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
Greensboro took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second and
then chased BC starter Casey Hartman with eight runs in the second
to take a 10-0 lead.
BC relief pitchers Jake Wade and Travis Lehman limited the Pride to
three runs and three hits over the next 5.1 innings, but the Eagles
stilled trailed, 13-6, with just three outs left.
Buracker led off the ninth with a single and Aaron Read reached on
an error. Mitchell Edwards plated one run with a double and Mike
Lenox chased home a run with a single, making the score 13-8. Drew
Elkins walked to load the bases and Brett Howell followed with a
grand slam homer to pull the Eagles within one, 13-12.
Alex Hogge walked to continue the rally and, after a strikeout,
Drew Easter doubled to put runners at second and third.
Buracker's infield single scored pinch-runner Devon Snow with
the tying run and Read then walked to load the bases. Everyone was
safe on Edwards' fielder's choice bunt and two more
runs scored on an error, giving BC a 16-13 lead.
The Pride opened the bottom of the ninth with a double and single
off of Eagles' closer Chris Gramm, but Gramm retired the next
three hitters, two on strikeouts to preserve the victory for
Lehman, who picked up the win in his first college appearance.
Several players shared in the offensive outburst for the Eagles.
Buracker was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI. Edwards
was 1-for-5 with two RBIs and Lenox finished 2-for-5 with a pair of
RBIs. Howell ended the day 2-for-5 with five RBIs and Elkins was
1-for-4 with a run batted in. Andy Chrismer was 1-for-2 with two
RBIs for the Eagles and Kevin Kirk was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
The Eagles are back in action Sunday with two more games against
USA South opponents. The Eagles play Averett University at 10 a.m.
and finish the weekend against N.C. Wesleyan at 4 p.m.
