Eagles rally late in 9-4 victory over Pensacola State

By Karl Hunt, TCC Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 8, 2015) – The Tallahassee Community College Eagles rallied late in the game Wednesday evening to claim a 9-4 victory over Panhandle Conference opponent Pensacola State College.

With Wednesday's win, the Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak and moved into sole possession of fourth place, 1.5 games out of third place in the PC standings and the league's final postseason berth.

Tallahassee evened the season series at 2-2 with the Pirates while improving to 27-16 on the season and 5-8 in conference play. 

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly then added a run an inning later for a 2-0 advantage. 

Tallahassee cut Pensacola State's lead in half in the bottom of the fourth. 

Kyle Taddeo led off the inning with a walk and a wild pitch moved him into scoring position.  Consecutive bobbled balls allowed Taddeo to reach third and eventually cross the plate for the Eagles' first run of the game. 

Pensacola State answered and seemingly took control of the game with a runs in the fifth and sixth innings for a 4-1 lead. 

In the seventh inning and facing two outs, however, the Eagles found their bats and put up five runs.

Chad Mabini and D.J. McKnight led off the inning with singles, but the Eagles soon found themselves in a hole and facing two outs.  With runners on second and third, a wild pitch on Cody Fulton's third strike allowed Fulton to reach first and Mabini to get home as the Eagles cut the lead to 4-2. 

Geremy Walton then singled into shallow left to score McKnight and pull the Eagles within a run.  Matt Olive was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Eagles. 

After a pitching change by the Pirates, Jeremy Scott singled into shallow right field, sending Fulton home from third with the tying run. Right behind him was Walton, who knocked the ball loose in a collision at home plate to score the go-ahead run. The Eagles were not done as Olive scored the Eagles' final run of the inning on another passed ball.

Tallahassee added three more runs in the eighth inning to push its lead to five (9-4). 

Back-to-back doubles by Mabini and McKnight produced the first run of the inning.  Taddeo singled to advance McKnight and Tyler Atwell followed with a double into deep left field to plate Taddeo and McKnight.

McKnight went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.

Matt Schaeffer got the start for the Eagles and went five innings.  Micah Dunn entered the game in relief and was credited with the win, his second of the season.

Tallahassee and Pensacola State will wrap up the season series on Friday in Pensacola. That game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. eastern start.