Alabama Christian (10-10) won on Monday and Tuesday as they prepare for their first Area series of the season against PCA on Thursday and Friday. The two games were very different, but ACA came from behind late in both of them to secure the victories.
Monday - Park Crossing
The Park Crossing game was a three-hour marathon that saw ten pitchers used. The Thunderbirds played as the home team although the game was played at ACA’s field. Alex Heilman started for the Eagles and held the opponent to just two runs over four innings. Meanwhile, Alabama Christian put six on the board in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Jackson Burton doubled over the left fielder’s head to drive in the first run of the game. Teilan Long singled in the second run and Burton scored on an error by the catcher for a 3-1 lead. In the fourth, Park Crossing gifted a couple of runs to the Eagles and Long drove in another run on an RBI ground out. ACA led 6-2 after four and looked to be in control.
The Thunderbirds scored six runs in the fifth off the bullpen to take an 8-6 lead. Cam Sutton came in and stopped the bleeding, but the damage was done. Another run in the sixth made it 9-6 going to the seventh inning. Down three heading into their last at-bat, the Eagles put together an eight-run inning. Beau Gainey and Ethan Dabney both singled to start the frame followed by a Jackson McGuire walk to load the bases. Jackson Burton was hit on a 2-0 pitch to drive in a run to make it 9-7. The next two batters were retired and the bases were still loaded. Ethan Dabney scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to one run and McGuire scored on another wild one to tie it as Levi Summers walked. ACA took the lead on yet another wild pitch as Burton scored from third. Two more walks produced another run for an 11-9 lead. With the bases still loaded, Ethan Dabney singled to right driving in two and a third runner scored on a throwing error from the right fielder for a 14-9 advantage. Mason Roosendall pitched the seventh to close it out.
Ethan Dabney looked great in the leadoff spot as he went 3 for 6 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI’s. Jackson Burton and Teilan Long both went 2 for 4 with two runs driven in. Burton also scored three runs. Cam Sutton picked up the win with two solid innings of relief. Starting pitcher Alex Heilman struck out five over four innings and allowed just one earned run on three hits.
Tuesday - Beulah
As much as Monday’s game resembled a church softball game with all of the runs scored, Tuesday’s contest was a low scoring game where the pitching dominated for much of the night. Two of Beulah’s four hits came in the second when they scored and four of ACA’s six hits came in the fifth when they scored their three runs. The other twelve half-innings produced just four hits.
Teilan Long started for the Eagles and pitched well enough to win as he went four innings allowing one run with three strikeouts. Long was helped by the play of Beau Gainey at shortstop. Twice Gainey made plays deep in the hole to help hold Beulah to just one run. Gainey came into relieve in the fifth and retired the side in order. ACA’s offense came to life in the bottom of the fifth as the visitor’s defense helped the cause. With one out, Levi Summers fought off an 0-2 inside pitch and drove it into left for a single. Up next, Mason Roosendaal hit a grounder for what could have been an inning ending double play, but the second baseman booted it and both runners were safe. In the next at-bat, Summers was almost picked off second by the catcher, but he was able to avoid the tag. With two outs Ethan Dabney and Mac Moorer hit consecutive singles to drive in two runs while a third scored on an error by the right fielder. Once he had the lead Gainey pitched two scoreless frames to end it for the 3-1 win.
Jackson McGuire led the offense with two hits in three at-bats. Mac Moorer, Jackson Burton, Levi Summers, and Ethan Dabney had the other hits. In relief, Beau Gainey pitched three innings and gave up one hit and no runs.