Pioneers Drop Late Inning Thriller

Lake Myrtle, Florida – The Delta College baseball team took the field on Tuesday evening, looking to improve upon their 2-3 record as they played a single nine-inning game against NJCAA Division II foe Monroe Community College from upstate New York.  Despite a solid effort, however, the Pioneers fell 5-4 as Monroe was able to push a run across in the bottom of the ninth to walk Delta off.

Facing a 2-0 deficit in the top of the third, Delta was able to tie the score as Matt Fisher and Nick Johnson both singled to put runners on the corners with one out.  Carson Longstreth squeezed Fisher home to make it 2-1 before Nolan Raymond singled to score Johnson.  Delta took the lead in the fourth when Kyle Belger was hit by a pitch and replaced by Andrew Gauthier.  A balk moved Gauthier to second and he scored when Cam Fowler singled to score Gauthier give Delta the 3-2 lead.

Meanwhile, Delta starter Connor Moe continued to keep the Trojans at bay, pitching five innings giving up three hits and three runs (one earned) before leaving the game with the score tied at 3-3.  A leadoff double and a two-out error gave Monroe the lead, 4-3 heading in to the ninth inning where Delta mounted a comeback.  Raymond got things started with a two-out single before Jeff Allen and Lucas Sella each drew walks to load the bases.  When Gauthier also drew a walk, the score was tied at 4-4 heading in to the bottom of the ninth.

Jackson Lund – whom had replaced Moe in the sixth – was still on the mound and after a leadoff error induced a ground out before giving up a walk to put runners at first and second with one out.  A wild pitch moved the game tying run to third base so Delta brought in a fifth infielder in an attempt to cut the runner down at the plate.  When the Monroe batter laced a line drive up the middle it looked like the game was over but Evan Pocius made a diving play in front of second base for the second out.

It wasn't meant to be, however, as the next two Trojan hitters were hit by pitches and the game ended in a 5-4 loss for Delta.  Lund took the loss despite not giving up an earned run and striking out six in four innings.  Matt Fisher led the offense with two hits and a run.

Delta is back in action tomorrow as they play 3^rd ranked Niagara in a single game before taking on 8^th ranked St. Cloud in the nightcap.  Game one is scheduled for an 11am start.