KINGS BEAT AVIATORS ON A WALK-OFF WILD PITCH IN THE NINTH
SPRINGFIELD, OH - The Champion City Kings (22-20) took game one of this four-game series over the Lafayette Aviators, 10-9, in exciting fashion on a walk-off wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday night at Carleton Davidson Stadium.
The Kings found themselves in a hole early as Lafayette catcher, Matt Phipps, hit a two-out, three-run home run over the right field fence in the top of the first inning. The Aviators three-run lead was quickly erased when Champion City answered with a five-spot in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Bo Seccombe (Faulkner University), an error by the Lafayette shortstop that brought Stephen Cullen (Motlow State CC) in to score, and a two-RBI double from Jett Swetland (University of Mount Olive).
Champion City would extend their lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Cullen that plated Chase Carney (Urbana University). The Kings blew this contest wide open in the bottom of the fourth when Jacob Freeland (Faulkner University) singled to score Jesse Hall (Lurleen B Wallace CC) and Seccombe launched a two-run home run to left center field to extend their lead to 9-3.
Lafayette would not go down without a fight as they added two in the top of the fifth on a two-run homer from Trey Sweeney and four more in the top of the seventh to tie the game up a nine.
With one-out in the bottom of the ninth, and the game still tied, Aaron Hughes (Ohio State) drew a walk, Jon Erhard (Ohio Wesleyan University) blooped a single into right field to move Hughes up to third base, and Swetland was intentionally walked to load the bases and give the Aviators a force out anywhere. With one ball and one strike to William Mapes (University of North Georgia), Avaitors reliever, Nathaniel Tate, threw a fastball high and tight that blew passed the catcher, made its way to the backstop, and allowed Hughes to score the game-winning run for Champion City.
After giving up the three-run home run in the first inning, Kings starter, Michael Byrne (Faulkner University), settled in and gave Champion City a solid outing of four innings, three hits, three runs, and seven strikeouts. Will Varnadore (USC-Aiken) was credited for his third win of the season pitching the final three innings, giving up no runs, on no hits, in a relief effort for Champion City.
Hall went two-for-four with a double (7) and two runs scored, Carney collected his third-straight two-hit game with a double (6) and a run scored, and Seccombe had two hits in four at-bats with a home run (12), three RBIs (30), and two runs scored.
Champion City and Lafayette will meet up again tonight for game two of the series at Carleton Davidson Stadium. First pitch scheduled for 6:35 PM.
