Wallace College - Baseball Press Releases

Wallace splits with Alabama Southern	2009-03-14
The Wallace Govs were only one hit away from a sweep of the Alabama Southern Eagles. In game two, the Govs battled back from a five-run deficit in the final inning to send the contest to an extra frame.
But after scoring five to get back into the game, the Govs gave up four runs in the top of the eighth. Even though Wallace got two of those runs back and had the tying runs on base, a second miracle comeback was not in the cards. The Govs dropped the second game 11-9, but still won the conference series by winning the first game 6-3. Saturday’s split combined with Friday’s win means the Govs are now 6-1 in conference play, 15-9 overall. The story for both teams was a lack of consistent relief pitching. For Wallace, Starling Arias gutted it out for five innings of game two. This, after he had been scratched from his Friday start with flu-like-symptoms. “I didn’t have much today,” Arias said. “I was still feeling pretty week, especially at the end.” Arias only allowed two runs during his stint. A third run given up by reliever Matt Gannon was also charged to him. However when Arias left the mound, the game was tied 2-2. But a series of relief pitchers gave up five runs. The most damaging inning was the top of the seventh when reliever Blake Snyder gave up three runs. Snyder walked three batters in the inning. He also gave up a two-RBI double to Cory Wenrich, and an RBI single to Trip Mitchell. That gave the Eagles a 7-2 lead and they were only three outs from a victory. But Eagle starter Tom Sawyer was replaced after he gave up a walk to Yeriel Nieves. That was the beginning of the Gov comeback. Loenardo Lamarche greeted reliever Ryan Harrison with a two-run homer. Harrison then gave up a single and two walks to load the bases. Dallas Berris then entered the game and forced in a run when he gave up a bases loaded walk to J.Ryan Rennspies. But the most damaging blow of all came a few pitches later. Berris uncorked a wild pitch that allowed one run to score. When the catcher threw the ball back to plate attempting to get the out, it got by everybody and a second run scored. That tied the game at 7-7 before the Eagles were finally able to get out of the inning. The Govs joy didn’t last very long. After Snyder got the first two outs, he gave up a single and a walk. Wallace coach Mackey Sasser brought in Brett Birdsong in an attempt to get the final out, even though he had pitched five innings the previous day. This time Birdsong wasn’t as effective. He gave up an infield single to load the bases. The big blow came next. It was a bases clearing three-run double by Wenrich. Mitchell followed and with an RBI infield single. The Eagles had quickly built a four run lead, 11-7. Wallace didn’t go quietly however. They began the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles by Chris Sasser and Nieves. But from there, things didn’t go so well. First, Lamarche was called out on an above the shoulders called third strike. Then for some unknown reason, Sasser took off from second base and was easily thrown out at third. T.J. Rivera then singled, and Niosergy Rosa kept the Govs hopes alive with a two-RBI single. The Govs did add a walk to put the tying runs on base, but a fly out by Zigmond Vanderwall ended the game. The first game wasn’t nearly as dramatic. Adam Oliver pitched a complete nine-inning game to earn the victory. His offensive support came from Vanderwall who hit a three-run homer, Rivera who hit an RBI sacrifice fly, and Daniel Fuller who had an RBI single. The sixth run scored on a wild pitch. Thomas Fultz took the loss for the Eagles. Wallace will be on the road Tuesday against Andrew College, and will also play out of conference at home Wednesday at 1 p.m. Nathaniel Frazier is Sports Information Director for Wallace College Baseball. He can be reached at NFrazier@DothanEagle.com.