Pippa Passes, KY- After sweeping Marantha Baptist University on Thursday, the baseball team returned to the road this past weekend looking to continue their sweep streak. The team took on the Alice Lloyd College Eagles as they looked to extend their winning streak.
The first game saw a struggle for the Mountaineers as the ball seemed to allude the team's bats. Berea was held scoreless as the host Eagles continues to score runs, scoring three runs in the first followed by one run in each the second, fourth and fifth inning, giving them a 6-0 advantage as the sixth inning began. The bats of the Mountaineers came alive in this inning though, as Berea scored five runs to come to within a run of the lead. Berea's defense held Alice Lloyd scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning, setting up a seventh inning scenario where the Mountaineers needed to score a run to extend the game or score two runs to take their first lead of the game. Berea achieved the second scenario, scoring two runs in the top of the seventh inning to move ahead 7-6. The coaches brought in Tyler Pope to close the game for the Mountaineers and the Eagles threatened with two batters, one with a walk and the other with a hit by pitch, but Berea got the three outs needed to win the game 7-6.
Griffen Norris started on the mound for the Mountaineers, pitching two innings and giving up seven hits and four earned runs, finishing the game with a no decision. The winning pitcher for Berea was Matthew Winburn, who pitched four innings and gave up five hits, two earned runs while striking two batters. This is Winburn's second win of the season. Pope earns his fourth save of the season. The bats for the Mountaineers combined for five hits in the game, coming from Ryan Blevens, Ron Overstreet, Andrew Akins, Joshua Durbin, and Nicholas Bottom. Akins finished with three RBIs while Blevens, Overstreet, Durbin and Bottom each finished with a single RBI.
The bats for Berea in the second game were much more present compared to the first. After giving up a run in the first inning to Alice Lloyd, Berea scored four runs over the next two innings, including a three-run home run from Overstreet in the third inning, to lead 4-1. A scoreless fourth inning saw the Eagles strike back in the fifth inning, scoring two runs to cut the Mountaineers lead to just one, 4-3. Berea blew the game open in the last two innings, scoring three runs in the sixth and two runs in the seventh while holding the Eagles scoreless to take the second game by a score of 9-3, completing the doubleheader sweep.
Overstreet led the way at the plate for the Mountaineers, finishing 1-1 with a three-run home run, three RBIs, three runs scored and three walks. Nathaniel Summey three hits led the team along with two hits from Blevens and a hit from Durbin and Akins to give the team a total of eight hits. Blevens added two RBIs to his stat line, while Cambridge Dacci, Akins and Bottom each finished with one RBI. Berea had runs scored by Josh Wilson, Summey (2), Blevens, Overstreet (3), Durbin and Joshua Works. Summey and Dacci each finished with a stolen base for the Mountaineers.
Chad Brown picked up his first win of the season from the bump, pitching five inning while giving up five hits, three runs (one earned) and striking out three batters. Durbin relieved Brown in the sixth inning, finishing the game only giving up one hit and striking out two batters.
Berea (9-12) look to continue their streak as they welcome Asbury University to the diamond on Tuesday in a single game, slated for nine inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM at the Berea College Sports Complex.