Eagles take Monday doubleheader with College of DuPage with two walkoffs

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Dyersburg State opened their week on the turf at home with a split in Monday afternoon’s doubleheader, taking the first game 7-6 before taking the second game in extra innings 5-4.

Game 1: Dyersburg State 7, College of DuPage 6

The Eagles trailed for most of the way in the opening game of Monday’s doubleheader, but the one time Dyersburg State lead was the time that counted the most as a two-run double from Jake Santos plated the tying and winning runs of a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Chaparrals.

The Eagles trailed by as much as 6-0 after four-and-a-half innings but began to rally in the bottom of the fifth. Devin Portee was hit by a pitch then scored on a double from Holden Warmath as the two-bagger was the first hit of the day for the Eagles. Ashton Kehren then followed with an RBI single to plate another run and cut the Chaparral lead to 6-2 after five innings.

A Santos double in the bottom of the sixth lead to more Dyersburg State runs as Amir Streeter, who walked to lead off the inning, scored on a Logan Cooke groundout. Santos then crossed later in the inning on a balk to cut the DePage lead to 6-4 heading into the seventh.

Dyersburg State’s first three batters were able to get on without putting the ball into play as Martin Gomez, Warmath and Tommy Melvin all drew walks to load the bases with no outs. But a strikeout kept the Chaparrals up by two until a Streeter sacrifice fly cut the deficit to one run. Santos then followed with a double scored the tying and winning run to give the Eagles the walkoff win.

Santos had two of the Eagles four hits, a pair of doubles and two RBI in the win.

Erik Tovar picked up the win in relief, allowing no runs on one hit in the final two inters of play with a pair of strikeouts.

Game 2: College of DuPage 4, Dyersburg State 1

The Eagles fell behind early and rallied late before taking the win in the ninth inning iof Game 2 against the Chaparrals in the nightcap.

The Chaparrals got on the board in the top of the first on a two-run home run from Jason Sullivan to make it a 2-0 game after the top of the first inning.

In a game where runs came at a premium during the first four innings, the Eagles finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth to cut the DuPage lead in half. Conner Vaughan drew a one-out walk then scored later in the inning on a Tommy Melvin base hit to cut the Chaparral lead to 2-1 after four innings.

The Chaparrals got that run back in the top of the fifth and then some. With two on and one out, a bouncer down the third-base line was field by Santos who applied a quick tag on the retreating runner at third, who was ruled safe on the play. The call proved costly as the next DuPage batter was walked and the following Chaparral was hit by a pitch, accounting for two runs. But, reliever Carmine Mercadante came in from the pen to strike out the next two batters and keep the DuPage lead at 4-1 after four and a half innings.

Dyersburg State looked to walk off its second game of the day as Warmath was hit by a pitch then Alex Whitside singled to give the Eagles two on with one out. Streeter followed with an RBI single then Santos singled to load the bases. Logan Cooke singled in the tying run. But, DuPage retired the next two batters to get out of the jam and send the game into extra innings.

The Eagles sat down DuPage in order in the eighth and got a Tommy Melvin single to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Justin Dukes took his place at first then advanced on a Henry Fernandez sacrifice bunt. A popout to short left followed then Dukes moved to third on a passed ball during Alex Whiteside’s two-out walk. But, a groundout ended the frame with the game still tied at 4-4.

Another 1-2-3 inning followed for the Eagles’ defense in the field before Dyersburg State came to bat in the bottom of the night. Santos reached on an error which saw him advance to second on the same play. Cooke was intentionally walked then Conner Vaughan was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Gomez  then drew a walk to bring home the winning run.

Santos had a trio of singles to lead the way at the plate for the Eagles in Game 2.

Guillermo Cruz picked up the win in relief, allowing zero runs on no hits in four innings of work.

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