#TCCBaseball: Eagles take series opener vs. Grand Rapids

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 3, 2019) – Tallahassee Community College had no trouble against Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College on Sunday, defeating the Raiders, 23-4, in game one of a three-game series. 

The teams were originally scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday followed by a single game Monday. Instead, the twillbill was moved to Monday due to Sunday's inclement weather. 

The Eagles enjoyed their biggest offensive output of the season – 23 runs on 18 hits. They also received plenty of help from five Grand Rapids pitchers who combined to issue 11 walks and hit seven batters. 

Tallahassee scored in each of its at-bats, beginning with a five-run first.

With two runs already on the board, Cyrus Grimes blasted a three-run homer over the right field wall to give the Eagles a 5-0 cushion. When Jeff Athey crushed a solo homer, also to right, in the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles led 12-1. 

Tallahassee sent 10 men to the plate in both the seventh and eighth innings, scoring a total of nine runs in its final two at-bats. 

Sunday's damage could have been worse. The Eagles stranded 15 base runners. 

Multiple players enjoyed big afternoons offensively. 

Alex Ray went 3-for-4 and scored five runs. He also walked three times. 

Taylor Lomack (3-for-7) and Ridge Abinsay (3-for-4) also had three hits each. Abinsay and Grimes both had four RBIs. Grimes and Trent Jeffcoat had two hits each. 

Chase Forester (0-for-3) was the only starter who went hitless but he walked three times and scored three runs. 

Javier Baldor started and struck out six in four innings but got a no-decision. Tyler Lehrmann (3-2) got the win in relief. He struck out four in two innings. 

In total, four Tallahassee pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts. 

Monday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m.