Badger News

At the 2009 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Baseball Tournament on Friday, Spring Hill College won an elimination game over Loyola University (La.) by a score of 12-11 in 10 innings at Milton Wheeler Field.  Senior Javier Cherta drove a 2-out single past a driving 3rd baseman to score Justin Harrison for the winning run as the Badgers rallied from a 4-run deficit.

After a scoreless first two frames, Loyola opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd inning with an RBI single to left-center by Mike Kelly followed by a chopper through the right side by Brien Delahoussaye that plated a second run.

The Badgers answered with a run-scoring single to left field by Ryan Cummings in the bottom of the inning and a 2-out single over the shortstop by Andy McCall that drove in two runners for a 3-2 lead.  Designated hitter Grant Brasher then ripped a bases-clearing double just inside the left field line to stake SHC to a 6-2 advantage.

The Badgers would add a run in the 6th inning, but Loyola rebounded with three runs off two hits in the 7th inning.  The 8th inning saw Loyola rally to load the bases with just one out off reliever Todd Kline who walked in the tying run then allowed David McChesney and Delahoussaye back-to-back 2-run hits to left for an 11-7 Wolfpack lead.

SHC starter Matt Hasley went six innings allowing four runs, seven hits, seven walks and four strikeouts.  Chris Bruce (1-2) took the win in relief with 2.2 innings of work with no hits, two walks and a strikeout. 

Freshman George Smith drew the start for the Wolfpack and lasted just 2.2 innings with six hits, two walks and a strikeout while reliever Bobby Alvarez (0-2) took the loss in .2 innings of work.

Spring Hill College rallied for a run in the 9th and loaded the bases with just one out when Blake Nelson slapped a dribbler to Taylor Domengeaux at short who threw the ball away at first giving the Badgers two runs.  Brasher tied the game at 11 with a sacrifice fly to left sending the game to extra innings.

Harrison set a painful career record for Spring Hill with his 32nd and 33rd hit-by-pitches in the 3rd and 10th innings.

At the plate, McChesney and Delahoussaye both had three hits for Loyola while Cherta belted out three hits and two RBI for the Badgers.

Spring Hill (27-27, 1-1) will play Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in an elimination game versus the University of Mobile while Loyola ends its season with a 12-39 record.