GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Andrew Bowerman was the hero of the game as he came through with a two-run, walk-off single in the ninth inning to lead Tusculum College to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Lee University Wednesday night at Pioneer Park.
The Pioneers (24-12) have won seven of their last nine games, while extending their home winning streak to seven straight. Tusculum also improves its record at Pioneer Park to an impressive 20-2, marking the eighth time TC has recorded 20 home wins since the facility opened in 2002.
Trailing 2-1 heading to the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Victoriano led off with a single to left field. Jalen Shuffler drew a walk to put runners and first and second. Scott Gibson's bunt attempt was picked up by Lee first baseman Ben Holland as he got Victoriano out on the force play at third base. J.J. Wesley pinch ran for Gibson at first, while Nick Rodriguez drew a clutch walk to load the bases for Bowerman.
Dakota Fowler came out of the bullpen to relieve Grayson Bailey, who pitched two solid innings heading into the final frame. Bowerman worked the count to 2-2 before lining a single to the gap in left centerfield and driving in Shuffler with the tying run and Wesley with the game-winner.
The ninth-inning heroics overshadowed some outstanding pitching performances by both teams.
Lee scored a pair of runs in the first inning off of TC starter Ethan Carpenter. Chris Adams reached on a one-out single and later scored on Trenton Hill's two-out single. With runners on the corners, Hill stole second base, but the throw sailed into the outfield allowing Holland to score from third with the inning's second run.
Lee catcher Nathan Wierzgac worked the count to 3-2, before Carpenter was pulled due to an injury. Christian Raasch came on in relief to face Wierzgac with a full-count. After he fouled off the first offering, Raasch ended the inning with a strikeout.
Raasch threw 6 1/3 hitless innings as he walked three and struck out six in the no-decision, while keeping the Pioneers within striking distance.
Lee starter Chevis Hoover limited the Pioneers to a single in his 2 2/3 innings where he blanked the Pioneers with three walks and three strikeouts.
Tusculum cut the deficit in the half in the fourth when Chris Waylock led off with a single and later scored on Shuffler's eighth double of the season as the Pioneers trailed 2-1.
Both teams got some late scoring chances. In the bottom of the sixth, Jim Tolle led off with a base hit, moved to second on a Waylock bunt and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt at second base. Reliever Ridge Ackerman worked out of the jam with a pair of ground outs to end the threat and preserve the 2-1 lead.
The Flames (20-15-1) had an opportunity to add an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning against reliever Placido Torres. Adams led off with a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. An Andres Nelo bunt put Adams at third with one out. But Torres got out of the jam with a strikeout and Rodriguez nabbed a looping pop up over his should at third base to end the inning.
Devan Watts (4-1) picked up the victory as he pitched the ninth inning where he allowed a hit after striking out the first two batters to start the frame. Bailey suffered the loss (2-2) as he gave up a one hit, two runs, two walks and posted three strikeouts.
Bowerman's single extends his personal hitting streak to 10 consecutive games.
Tusculum returns to South Atlantic Conference play this weekend as the Pioneers host Brevard College for a three-game series.
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