AMERICUS, Ga. – Georgia Southwestern erased a four-run deficit with a dramatic ninth-inning surge Sunday afternoon, but Trevecca Nazarene University answered in the 10th to hand the Hurricanes an 8-7 extra-inning loss at Hurricane Stadium.
Down to their final three outs, the Hurricanes used a pair of home runs and timely hitting to force extra innings, electrifying the home crowd before Trevecca Nazarene pushed across the deciding run in the top of the 10th.
Ninth-Inning Comeback Ignites Hurricane Stadium
Trailing 7-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, GSW mounted an unforgettable rally against Trevecca Nazarene reliever Kayne Jinks.
Devon Murphy started the comeback by sending a solo home run that curled just inside the left-field foul pole, cutting the deficit to three. After a walk to
Drake Harman,
Drew Reaves delivered two-out RBI single to right-center to bring the Hurricanes within two.
Moments later,
Edwin Melendez crushed his second home run of the season, a 372-foot blast to left, tying the game at 7-7 and bringing the Hurricanes all the way back from the brink.
GSW worked runners to first and second after a pair of walks followed but was unable to deliver the walk-off hit, sending the game to extras.
Trevecca Nazarene Breaks Tie in the 10th
In the top of the 10th, Trevecca Nazarene capitalized on a passed ball to score the go-ahead run. The Hurricanes were retired in order in the bottom half as the visitors secured avoided a sweep by winning the series finale.
Back-and-Forth Early Battle
The game featured momentum swings throughout, with neither side able to pull away until late.
GSW answered Trevecca Nazarene's opening-inning run immediately, as
Josh McDonald drove in Murphy to even the score. The Hurricanes grabbed an early edge in the second on an RBI single from
Noah Jones and tied the game again in the fifth on aggressive baserunning that plated
Caleb Gipson.
Trevecca Nazarene gradually built a four-run cushion with scoring in the sixth and a three-run, two-out rally in the seventh, setting the stage for the Hurricanes' late heroics.
Strong Individual Efforts
- Murphy finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and sparked the ninth-inning rally
- Melendez went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, highlighted by the game-tying home run
- Gipson reached base four times, collecting two hits and two walks
On the mound,
Cooper Sain was charged with the loss after pitching 3 1/3 innings of relief in which he did not allow an earned run, while the Hurricanes' bullpen combined to limit further damage after the seventh.
Next Up
The Hurricanes move to 2-1 on the season following the opening weekend. GSW will look to carry the momentum from Sunday's ninth-inning comeback when they continue non-conference play at home on Tuesday against Auburn University at Montogomery at 6 p.m.
