Eagles fall victim to walk-off in Augusta 3-2
AUGUSTA, Ga. – With a 2-1 lead, one out and runners at first and third base in the bottom of the ninth inning, Georgia Regents University third basemen Hunter Boose lined a 3-2 pitch just inside of the third base bag allowing two runs to score and send Carson-Newman home with its first loss of the season.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
AUGUSTA, Ga. – With a 2-1 lead, one out and runners at first and third base in the bottom of the ninth inning, Georgia Regents University third basemen Hunter Boose lined a 3-2 pitch just inside of the third base bag allowing two runs to score and send Carson-Newman home with its first loss of the season.
The Eagles (2-1) took a 2-0 lead to the bottom of ninth inning and sent starting pitcher Dustin Dunagan (Winder, Ga.) to the mound to try for a complete game. The right-hander induced a ground out from Jaguars' leadoff hitter JD Sabo for the first out. Tyler Roberts and Jeff Rice each singled to put a runner at first and second base prompting Carson-Newman to bring on Josh Russell (Bradenton, Fla.).
The next batter, Connor Gilbert, smacked a single into left field to bring home a run and set the stage for Boose.
"He was getting by with mostly fastballs," head coach Tom Griffin said of Dunagan and the decision to leave him in the game. "I felt like he was fine. At the end, there was a chance to give a guy who has had an opportunity to save some games, Josh Russell. We were trying to get a ground ball in that situation. We did get two ground balls. Unfortunately, they found a hole."
The visiting team had just one base runner through the first four innings. First basemen Evan Jurjevic (New Carlisle, Ind.) led off the fifth inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Bryan Everhart (Greeneville, Tenn.). Second basemen Peter Rajkovich (Stockton, Calif.) laced a single into centerfield to put the Eagles on top 1-0.
Right fielder Cody Fox (Seymour, Tenn.) started the seventh frame with a double off of the top of the wall in right field. Two batters later, Shade Jett lined a single into left field over a drawn-in infield to give Carson-Newman a 2-0 lead.
The Eagles were held to just five hits in the game and seven total base runners as they stranded three runners in the afternoon affair.
"Terrible job coaching them up," Griffin said of the lack of offense. "We made no changes. There was no approach at the plate as far as adjustments go. Obviously their pitcher did a great job working middle-away."
Dunagan went 8.1 innings allowing two earned runs on six hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Jaguars starting pitcher Frank Warren struck out eight over 6.1 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks.
Carson-Newman will hit the road again for a midweek visit to Shorter Wednesday at 2 p.m. Coverage begins at 1:50 p.m. on the Eagle Sports Network.
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