Rally In Tally: Eagles storm back, scoring eight unanswered runs. Tallahassee snaps four-game losing streak behind reliever Strall

By Brenden Martin
TCC Sports Information
@brendenmartin28

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 24, 2014) -The Tallahassee Community College Eagles rallied from four down in the fourth, scoring five runs in the inning and coasting to an 8-4 victory over Abraham Baldwin (Ga.) Agricultural College behind reliever Collin Strall's strong outing. 

Tallahassee (13-5) came into Monday's game against ABAC ranked No. 1 in the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Men's Baseball Coaches' Poll. 

After beginning the season on an 11-game winning streak, the Eagles have run into some trouble of late losing five out of the last six games. The team is hoping that spending some time at home can turn into wins. The Eagles are in the midst of a 16-game home-stand. 

The game did not get off to an ideal start for Tallahassee as the Stallions jumped out to an early lead. The starting lefty Ryan Deckert held Abraham Baldwin scoreless through the first two innings. 

In the top of the third, ABAC started to string some hits together, getting multiple runners on base with shots in the gaps. The Stallions put up their first two runs of the game in the third and tacked on two more in the next inning. 

Deckert was pulled after throwing 67 pitches in three-plus innings. He gave up six hits and two earned runs, he also walked one batter but did record a strike out. He was replaced by right-hander Collin Strall in the top of the fourth. 

Just when things looked bleak for the Eagles is when the offense came alive. They needed to get runners on base as they were desperate for a big inning. 

All it takes is one hit to motivate the rest of a lineup and start a rally. Tallahassee was staying patient and waiting for the right pitches to jump on. The Eagles were threatening in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and nobody out. 

Jonathan Burkett finally got the Eagles on the board with one RBI after he hit a come-backer straight off pitcher Turner Edwards's ankle. He would immediately leave the game with a minor injury. 

Later in the inning, Tallahassee still had the bases juiced when DH Christian Dicks dug in at the plate. He hit a line drive down the right field line and bolted around the bases, sliding into third with a 3-RBI triple which gave the Eagles a 5-4 lead. The Eagles came from behind to add five runs in the fourth. 

D.J. McKnight added a two-run #BirdGang Bomb in the bottom of the seventh and Bobby Rice's eighth-inning single scored Craig with an insurance run to give the Eagles an 8-4 lead.

McKnight was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Craig was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Burkett was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in. 

Meanwhile, Strall (2-0) was brilliant in relief, allowing just one hit over six shutout innings to earn the win. He struck out six and walked just one. 

Tallahassee will continue its homestand on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. game against Florida State College at Jacksonville.