#TCCBaseball: Eagles drop second game to Chipola

By Andrew Miller, TCC Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 9, 2017)  - Looking to avenge a loss earlier in the week, Tallahassee Community College, on Thursday, took the field for the second consecutive game against Chipola College. However, the Eagles suffered the same fate, falling to Chipola 9-1 after eight innings. 

Tallahassee (15-13, 0-2 Panhandle Conference) found itself trailing early, down 3-0 heading into the bottom half of the second. After loading the bases with no outs, the Eagles managed to score one run, getting on the scoreboard for the first, and what would be the only, time all night. 

Chipola wasted no time getting that run back, scoring in the top of the third inning to make it a 4-1 ballgame. 

The Eagles were in good position to cut their deficit following a leadoff triple from Tanner Thomas in the fourth inning. It was his first triple of the season. Thomas was thrown out at home on an attempted squeeze bunt leaving the score at 4-1. 

Chipola led off the fifth inning with a bang, hitting back-to-back home runs, extending its lead to 6-1. 

Tallahassee starting pitcher Nick Marchese was lifted after 5.1 innings pitched. He allowed eight earned runs and threw two strikeouts along the way. Marchese suffered his second loss in seven appearances this season, falling to 2-2. 

Sophomore Hunter Shuff came on in relief to begin the sixth inning and limited the Chipola offense to just one run in his two innings pitched. 

Trailing 9-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Tallahassee needed one run to avoid having the game called early due to the run rule. 

Down to its last out, Tallahassee saw two consecutive batters reach base, but Deyvid Silva struck out to end the game. 

Tallahassee will conclude its series with Chipola on Saturday in Marianna with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.