Walk off sac fly secures Sunday win for Eagles

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — Wake Tech baseball defeated Catawba Valley 5-4 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon, improving to 15-15 (9-10 conf.) on the season. While the Eagles dropped two of the series' three games, Sunday's win provided a huge boost to the Eagles' in the Region 10 DII West standings, bringing them within a half game of Louisburg for fourth place. 

Blake Russell picked up a leadoff double in the bottom of the first, and came in to score the game's first run on an RBI ground out from Blake Gaffney. 

Caden Richardson got the start and pitched two innings. He worked into the third, but after Catawba Valley led off the inning with a home run and triple, head coach DJ Russ turned to his bullpen, bringing in Aidan Warnock. Warnock managed to strike out the side and keep the game tied. He worked three innings in relief and allowed just one run. 

The Eagles regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Cameron Rickabaugh reached on an error from the Catawba Valley left fielder, scoring Davis Reed. The play was scored as a sacrifice fly, however, as Reed was tagging and expected to score had the ball been caught. Red Hawks starter Tony Lopez limited the damage though, striking out the side and leaving the bases loaded, keeping it a one-run game. 

It was tied once again in the fifth inning, when Pierece Buowman hit his second home run of the game. 

Rickabaugh picked up another RBI in the bottom of the sixth, doubling home Nick Schultz. 

The Eagles were on the verge of being swept after allowing runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings, trailing 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. But a single with two outs from Jake Mathis kept the team's hopes alive. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, and a Russell double brought him home to tie the game at four. 

Christian Davis came in to pitch the 10th inning, marking the first home appearance of his career. He kept Catawba Valley off the board, striking out two, and stranding the go-ahead run at third base. In the bottom half, Gaffney got things started with a single to center field. Schultz walked, giving the Eagles two baserunners. Rickabaugh attempted to bunt the runners over, but ended up reaching on an error by the third baseman. At this point, Russ went to his bench, calling on the speedy Lucas Witt to run for Gaffney at third base. John Mason stepped up and put flew out to left field, deep enough to score Witt and end the game. 

Next up, the Eagles host Louisburg on Wednesday before heading to Cleveland on Friday for a three-game series.