TCC rallies past ABAC to improve to 6-1

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 2, 2013) - FCSAA No. 9 Tallahassee Community College spotted Abraham Baldwin (Ga.) Agricultural College a 6-0 lead then rallied for a 10-6 victory over the Stallions on Saturday afternoon at Eagle Field.

The win, Tallahassee's third in a row, improved the Eagles to 6-1 on the young season.

ABAC scored three two-out runs in the top of the first off Tallahassee starter Daniel VanSickle then knocked out the Eagle righty in the third after a two-run double by Christian Miller put the Stallions in front, 5-0. Cody Alling, who relieved VanSickle, gave up a run-scoring double to Adam Boan that scored Miller with the third run of the inning.

VanSickle was charged with all six of ABAC's runs in two-plus innings of work.

Still facing a 6-0 deficit entering the fifth, Tallahassee got a pair of runs back on Clay Fenwick's two-run homer.

An inning later, the Eagles didn't record a hit but managed to put three runs on the board to get within a run.

ABAC starter Matt Moses walked the first three batters to load the bases, ending his day after five-plus innings. Reliever Riley Sparks inherited the bases-loaded jam and promptly walked Chad Mabini, which brought home Trent Higginbothem with the first run. After Kevin Cruz lined out to second, Nick Graganella drew the fifth base on balls of the inning to plate Tyler York and send the Stallions to the bullpen once again.

With the bases still loaded, Aaron Westbury walked Anthony Torres, which brought home Cody Borup with the third run of the frame.

In the bottom of the seventh, Tallahassee completed the comeback and got VanSickle off the hook with one swing of the bat. After leadoff hitter Matt Bahnick was hit by a pitch, Higginbothem took Westbury's first pitch over the left field wall to give the Eagles their first lead of the game.

Tallahassee added three more runs in the frame, capped by Graganella's two-run single.

Graganella finished the day 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a pair of walks. Higginbothem was 1-for-4, scored twice and drove in a pair.

For the second straight day, the Eagles' bullpen came through with a strong outing.

On Friday, Ethan Bornstein pitched four no-hit innings in Tallahassee's 11-0 win over South Georgia. On Saturday, it was the trio of Alling, winning pitcher Eric Russell (1-0) and Jared Stanley, who combined to shut out the Stallions over a combined seven innings of work.

Russell, who pitched 2.1 innings, and Stanley, who recorded the final four outs, held the Stallions hitless over the final 3.2 innings.

Tallahassee will travel to Tifton, Ga., on Super Bowl Sunday for the back end of the teams' home-and-home series. First pitch is at 2 p.m.