Weather Stops Mountaineers’ Climb to a Win

Berea College baseball’s tightest scoring game this season ended in a loss (15-14) due to weather in the 11th inning on Tuesday. The game was called after the teams were sent to the locker rooms at the BC Sports Complex for shelter from the lightning.

The game began at five rather than six, in an effort to beat the storm. TC Eads started on the mound for the Mountaineers, and Aaron Duncan, Kelby Storm, and Devin Belleville all pitched relief. Both teams scored one run in the first inning.

The second inning was dominated by the Eagles with six runs. Nicholas Bottom fought back with his homer, making the score 7-2.

“By the end of the third inning,” according to the Eagles’ coach, “we had a ballgame.” The game’s excitement and the wind picked up simultaneously.

No runs were scored by Berea in the fourth inning, but they did score four runs in the fifth.

The seventh inning was the true come-back for Berea. With five runs scored, the game was tied at 13-13.

An extra inning was needed once Berea tied the game at 14-14 during the ninth.

In the tenth inning the Asbury team flooded the field due to the excitement of Harris Hoskin’s triple to center field. The ball was still live. Shouts and refusals to return to the dugout were met by the threat of a penalty.

Taunts came from the previously quiet dugout of the Eagles as emotions and stress raised. Some fans in the stand reciprocated these. Others were too involved with the game to sacrifice any attention.

Austin Jennings scored the last run of the game for the Eagles in the eleventh. With one BC batter out, the game was stopped due to the imminent weather. Berea lost to the weather and the Eagles, 15-14.

There is a chance for Berea to break their four game losing streak before the season’s end. Berea College is scheduled to host a three-game series with USA South Athletic Conference opponent Huntingdon College, April 6th-8th.

Huntingdon needs the series in order to make their conference tournament. Will the weather work for Huntingdon as it did for Asbury?