Key, Hardy rally Pioneers to 10-7 comeback win at Lynn

Tim Hardy pitched five strong innings in relief with a career-high 9 strikeouts in Tusculum's 10-7 comeback win at Lynn (Photo by Chris Lenker)
Tim Hardy pitched five strong innings in relief with a career-high 9 strikeouts in Tusculum's 10-7 comeback win at Lynn (Photo by Chris Lenker)

BOCA RATON, Fla. --- Tusculum College scored five runs in the ninth inning, including Dante Key's game-winning three-run homer as the Pioneers rallied to a 10-7 victory at Lynn University Sunday afternoon.

The Pioneers (1-2) erased a 6-0 deficit and got five outstanding innings from reliever Tim Hardy as Tusculum closes out its three-game Florida road swing.  The Fighting Knights (2-1) suffered their first loss of 2017 and their fourth consecutive loss at the hands of the Pioneers.

Hardy recorded a career-high nine strikeouts, while allowing one run, four hits and a walk.

The two teams combined for 18 hits, but also committed 10 errors, including six by the Knights.

Lynn jumped out to the six-run lead scoring two runs each in the second, third and fourth innings.  Jonathon Corbitt hits a two-run homer in the second inning, while TC committed three errors in the third, resulting into a pair of runs.

Tusculum scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning thanks to one TC hit and two Lynn errors.  TC scratched a run in the sixth when Zach Lippincott led off with a single and later scored on Key's sacrifice fly out.  TC made it a 6-5 game when Jeremy Glore reached on an error and scored on Colby Skeen's double down the right field line.

The Knights added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a Jarren Pinkney two-out single to bring in Alex Turner to extend the Lynn lead to 7-5.

In the Tusculum ninth, Nick Lacina walked and Skeen singled to put the tying runs aboard with no outs. Pinch-hitter Cole Baxley bunted to put runners and second and third.  Daulton Martin drove in the first run of the game with his single to right, followed by John Topoleski's RBI hit to tie the game at 7-7.

Lynn reliever Philip Quinn was brought on to face Key, who blasted a shot to right field to give the Pioneers their first lead of the day.

In the ninth, Hardy (1-0) retired the side in order, including strikeouts of the last two batters to seal the victory. 

Key finished the game with four RBI, while Topoleski and Skeen had two hits apiece.

The Pioneers will be back in action on Wednesday when they host Lenoir-Rhyne University in a mid-week, non-conference game against the Bears. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Pioneer Park.