BRISTOL, Tenn. --- Max Schmarder went 3-for-6 with a career-high six RBI including his go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning to lead the Tusculum University baseball team to a 15-12 win at King University Tuesday afternoon.
Tusculum (13-10) records its fourth consecutive victory and completes the season-sweep over the Tornado (7-15).
The Pioneers jumped out to a 7-1 lead only to see King score eight unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 9-7 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, Kayl Ratliff led off with a walk, moved to second on Jack Gagen's base hit and Luis Reyes loaded the bases with a one-out walk. Zane Keener drove in the first run of the frame with his RBI single to left field to cut the deficit to one (9-8). King reliever Cole Pletcher took over on the mound to face Schmarder and he was welcomed with a second-pitch blast over the left field fence. It was Schmarder's team-leading third home run of the season as the Pioneers reclaimed the lead at 12-9.
The Tornado wasted little time to respond as Andrew Bryant led off with a single. Garret followed with a single of his own which got away from the TU outfielder rolling all the way to the fence, allowing Bryant to score from first base and Garret going to third. After a fly out, Patrick Corley put down a squeeze bunt to drive home Garret to make it a 12-11 contest.
In the top of the eighth, the Pioneers added three insurance runs as pinch-hitter Will Samuelson, along with Reyes and Keener drew walks to load the bases again for Schmarder. With one out, Schmarder came through again with a two-run single. Ben Scartz followed with his fourth hit of the day to drive in Keener to make it a 15-11 game.
Tusculum closer Seth Willis took over in the eighth inning and retired the side in order including a strikeout.
In the bottom of the ninth, pinch-hitter Misael Garcia led off with a double and Bryant followed with a two-base hit of his own to make it a three-run game (15-12). Willis responded by striking out the next three batters to end the game.
Tusculum jumped out to a 3-0 lead scoring two times in the first inning and once in the third. King answered with a run in the bottom of the third on Truman Roper's RBI double.
Tusculum added four runs in the fifth which included Murphy Flood's RBI double and a Gagen sacrifice fly as TU went up 7-1.
King used the long-ball to spark its rally as Chad Evans belted a three-run homer in the fifth and Nathan Borchardt hit a grand slam in the sixth as the Tornado went ahead 9-7.
Tusculum established season-highs in runs scored (15), hits (16) and walks (13). Scartz went 4-for-5 on the afternoon, while Omar Carreras went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Keener reached base four times and scored three runs. Schmarder's six RBI performance is tied for the seventh-most in program history.
The Tornado finished with a dozen hits on the day as Conner Hyatt, Roper, Borchardt, Bryant and Huffman had two hits apiece.
Tusculum's Jonathan Nelson (1-1) picked up the victory in relief while King's Jacob Raguini (0-1) suffered the loss.
Tusculum starting pitcher Corey Binion made his 2024 debut on Tuesday as he pitched two shutout innings, while working around a hit, one walk and posted a strikeout as he saw his first action since 2022.
The Pioneers return home this weekend when they host Lenoir-Rhyne for a three-game South Atlantic Conference series beginning with Friday night's opener at 6 p.m.
