CLEVELAND, Tenn. --- Tusculum College's Nick Rodriguez recorded a pair of hits, including his game-winning two-run single in the 10th inning to lead the Pioneers to a 6-4 victory over Lee University Tuesday night at Olympic Field.
Tusculum (20-11) rallied from a pair of deficits to snap the Flames (21-10) six-game home winning streak as LU suffers only its fourth loss in 20 home contests this year.
Chris Waylock went 2-for-4 and scored two runs, while John Topoleski went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
With the score tied at 4-4 heading to the top of the 10th inning, Taylor Foster led off the frame with a base hit. Jalen Shuffler pinch-ran for Foster and moved to second base on Scott Gibson's sacrifice bunt. Topoleski drew walk to put runners at first and second. Shuffler was forced out at third base on a fielder's choice by Waylock. Topoleski and Waylock moved up a base on a wild pitch by LU reliever Carlos Ditren.
Following the wild pitch, Rodriguez lined a single to left field to bring home Topoleski and Waylock for a 6-4 Tusculum lead.
In the bottom of the 10th, Clark Ayers gave up a one-out infield single. But he ended the game with a strikeout and a ground out to secure the victory. Ayers improves to 2-1 with the win as he went 2 2/3 innings, scattered three hits, struck out four and walked none.
TC starter Ethan Carpenter picked up a no decision as he went 7
1/3 innings and allowed seven hits, four runs, three strikeouts and
two walks in his 102-pitch performance.
The Flames plated a pair of runs in the second inning to take a 2-0
advantage on Andres Nelo's two-run single.
Tusculum answered with three runs in the top of the third. Andrew Bowerman led off with a single and scored on Jeremiah Tullidge's sixth double of the season to trim the deficit in half. Trey Drewery walked, but LU starter Rob Gustitus struck out Heath Comerford and Foster for the first two outs of the inning. Scott drew a walk to load the bases for Topoleski as he hit the first offering by Gustitus to center field for a two-run single and a 3-2 Tusculum lead.
The score remained that way until the fourth inning s Nathan Wierzgac responded with a two-out, two-run single to give the Flames the lead once more at 4-3. It was one of three hits on the night for Wierzgac.
Tusculum tied the game in the sixth inning as Waylock reached on a one-out single and moved to third base on a Rodriguez double. Bowerman knotted up the contest at 4-4 with his RBI ground out.
The Pioneers return home this weekend to host South Atlantic Conference newcomer Coker College, beginning with Friday's 6 p.m. contest at Pioneer Park.
- TC -
