Eagles split doubleheader with Grand Rapids

By Karl Hunt, TCC Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 3, 2014) – Tallahassee Community College split a doubleheader with Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College on Tuesday afternoon at Eagle field.  The Raiders took game one 5-4 then the Eagles came back to claim an 8-5 game two victory.  

The Eagles are now ­­13-8 on the season and 11-2 at home. 

In game one, the Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the third inning.  After surrendering the game's first run in the top half of the inning, Tallahassee came back with two runs of its own.   

With two outs, Cody Fulton singled into left and then was brought home when D.J. McKnight tripled to right centerfield. McKnight scored on a Tyler Atwell single to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. 

The Eagles added another run in the fourth as Robert Henderson scored to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead. 

The Raiders rallied in the fifth putting up four runs to take a 5-3 lead. 

The Eagles answered back with another run in the bottom of the fifth.  McKnight led off the inning with a double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Another Atwell single brought McKnight home to cut the lead to one (5-4). 

Tallahassee found itself within striking distance entering the seventh.  McKnight hit one to deep center with what looked like a great opportunity to bring the winning run to the plate, however, he was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.  After that, the Eagles went quietly in their final at-bat. 

McKnight went 4-for-4, which included two doubles, a triple, an RBI and two runs. 

Thomas Nicoll got the start for the Eagles and pitched 4.2 innings.  He was saddled with the loss and is now 1-2 for the season. 

In game two, the Eagles jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, scoring in the first, second, and third innings.  

The game's first run came when Ethan Crout scored on a fielder's choice to the shortstop. 

The Eagles' run in the second came off a solo home run to left by Matt Olive. 

Tallahassee put up a pair of runs in the third inning as Mac Wilson and Chad Mabini scored to push the Eagles' lead to 4-0. 

Trailing 5-0 heading into the sixth inning, the Raiders tried to rally back, scoring three runs but the Eagles answered right back with three runs of their own to end the inning 8-3. 

The game's final two runs by the Raiders cut the Eagles lead to three (8-5) in the seventh inning. 

Four Eagles went 2-for-3, however, Crout was the most notable.  He also had two RBIs, a double and scored twice. 

Dustin Dye got the start for the Eagles, going 5.1 innings and only giving up four hits.  This is his first win of the season and improved to right-hander to 1-1.  

Cameron Paley got credit for the save, his first of the season, coming in to close out the game in the final inning.  He struck out two. 

The Eagles will be back in action on Thursday afternoon as they take on Thomas University JV in a doubleheader.  The first game will begin at 3:30 p.m.