MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College baseball team's rally comes up short in a 9-7 loss to visiting Delta State University tonight. The Badgers drop to 0-5 on the year, while the Statesmen start the season at 1-0.
After Delta State went scoreless in its half of the first, the Badgers got on the board in their half of the frame. With one out,
Alex Roux singled to short and later moved to second when
Jordan Black dropped a single into right field. Roux later tagged and took third off a flyout to right, and he then scored off a wild pitch to make it 1-0. Black took second on the play.
Eli Benoit walked with two outs to put runners on first and second.
Black later scored to make it 2-0 on an error by the second baseman when attempting to throw
Eli Benoit advanced to third after walking.
Gavin Moran reached first on the play off a fielder's choice before the inning ended.
Spring Hill added a run in the bottom of the second to push its lead to 3-0.
Delta State responded in the top of the third when it pushed three runs across to tie the game and then in the sixth plated six runs to take a 9-3 lead.
The Badgers got one of the runs back when Black belted a solo shot to left to record his second home run of the season to make it 9-4 after seven.
Headed to the bottom of the ninth, Spring Hill was down to its last chance.
Evan Kirk started things off when he singled and later moved to second when
Reggie Cooper walked. Roux loaded the bases when he dumped a single into center. Kirk later scored to make it 9-5 when Black reached on a fielder's choice. Cooper moved to third to put runners on the corners. The Badgers loaded the bases again when
John Webb walked with one out.
Following a strikeout for out number two,
Gavin Moran walked, and
Dee Brandon was hit by a pitch that drove in a pair of runs to make it 9-7, but the threat and game ended with a strikeout.
Spring Hill tallied eight walks to Delta State's three.
Roux paced all Badger hits as he went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, while teammate Black went 2-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs. He also had the team's only extra-base hit (home run).
Jaylen Jones and Kirk each tallied a hit apiece.
Starting pitcher
Ray Ochoa suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 on the year. He allowed six hits over five and a third innings while striking out five and giving up five runs (all earned).
Spring Hill is back in action tomorrow when it takes on Delta State in a doubleheader. Game one starts at 1 p.m.
