PORTSMOUTH – Baseball came into its weekend series with No. 23 Georgetown having to come from behind in each of its last three victories. Friday's 4-3 makes that streak four straight wins in come from behind fashion after the Bears (15-11, 6-1 MSC) scored two times in both the seventh and eighth innings to grab the win over the Tigers (14-4, 4-3 MSC).
The Tigers got on the board early with a run in the second inning. Three singles and a Shawnee State error allowed the Tigers to score first, but Shawnee State starter Derek Moore (FR, Wheelersburg, Ohio) would strike out two batters in the inning to prevent further damage.
Tigers' starter Tyler Arthur, who had also not been beaten this season, was also up to the task on Friday as he did not allow the Bears to have two runners at the same time until the sixth inning.
Trailing by the early run, Shawnee State put itself in a bigger hole during the sixth inning after a hit by pitch with one out and a two-out single put a pair of Georgetown runner's aboard. Armando Lomelli then singled into right field. What would have loaded the bases turned into two unearned runs for the Tigers as the ball got away from the outfield to put GC up 3-0. However, Moore would get the next batter to fly out to centerfield to strand the runner that advanced to third on the previous play.
In the sixth, the Bears put a pair of runners on with walks drawn by Jake Cain (SO, Cold Spring, Ky.) and Dalton Tinsley (JR, Kokomo, Ind.). However, both were stranded and Georgetown led 3-0 heading to the seventh. In the top of the seventh, Moore would continue to do his part and retired the Tigers in order. Once the bottom half of that frame rolled around, it was rally time and the Bears would be denied no longer.
Brady Hightchew (SO, Newport, Ky.) led off the inning with a single. Brady Page (JR, Las Vegas, Nev.) and Todd Queener (SR, Mentor, Ohio) then worked back-to-back walks to load the bases. That would also bring the end of the day for Arthur after 6.1 innings. The Tigers called on Edwin Santiago to bail them out of the jam. However, he uncorked a wild pitch to score the first run of the inning, while Daniel Katayama (SR, Sao Paulo-Guarulhos, Brazil) lifted a ball to center field, making the score 3-2.
With his first run support of the day, Moore again went out and shut down the Tigers in the eighth. Shawnee State took the lead with authority in the bottom half of the inning. Cain led off that frame with a solo home run to center field, knotting the game at 3-3. The largest home crowd of the season had barely settled down into their seats before Tinsley also did some yard work of his own a little but more towards right centerfield. Cain's home run was his second of the season, while Tinsley's blast was has team-leading fifth home run of the season.
With the lead, the Bears brought Mason Wisner (JR, Bay Village, Ohio) on to close out the game. He would concede a leadoff single, but got the next batter to pop up his sacrifice bunt attempt. He would then get a swinging pop up that was taken in first base foul territory to put two away. Wisner had a full count Duran Elmore, but hit him with the payoff pitch. Despite putting the potential go-ahead run on base, Wisner settled in and got the next batter to fly out to right field, putting the finishing touches on the Bears' win.
Despite his team trailing after he completed the bottom of the eighth, Moore picked up his fifth win of the season, while Wisner looked down his third save attempt. Moore ended up going a full eight innings, allowed eight hits and three runs (just one of which was earned), but struck out six to keep his team close before the big bats came through.
Baseball will be back in action tomorrow in a doubleheader with Georgetown to close out the three-game series. The first pitch of the opening game is set for noon.
