Urbana University came out on top 10-9 in extra innings over Ohio Valley during a wild mid-week contest Wednesday at UU Baseball Field.
The Blue Knights tied the game in the ninth and plated three runs with two outs in the 10th to steal the win. The two teams combined for 30 hits and UU hit a season-high three home runs.
Despite losing its grip on the lead twice in the final two frames, UU never quit and received clutch efforts up-and-down the lineup.
UU (9-18) held a 6-4 lead entering the ninth and needed just three outs to finish it off. But the Scots battled back and scored three runs to take a 7-6 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tanner Davis led off with a single and moved over to second on a sac bunt. After that, left-handed swinging Damario Brown drove a deep liner to the left-center fence to extend the game with an RBI triple.
The Scots responded with a pair of runs on three hits in the 10th to go up 9-7, and then had UU on the ropes after retiring the first two Knights.
However, UU right fielder Tim Feasel, who was hitless in five at-bats, came through with a single up the middle to add new life to the Blue and Grey.
Nick Gallagher drew a walk and then Connor Coy was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up a dramatic finish.
Mickey Barea entered the box next and lined a sharp single to the outfield, scoring two runs which evened the score at 9-9. Brown came up once again and was plunked to load the bases.
Senior DJ Collins, who had an opportunity to win the game in the ninth with a runner on third, made up for his previous failed attempt by drawing an RBI walk to win it.
First baseman Brent West led the way at the plate by launching a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot to center in the third and a solo blast to left in the seventh.
Enmanuel Lopez also produced a solo home run in the second frame, which ended up crashing through the back window of a parked car well behind the left-field fence.
West (2-for-4, 3 RBI) and Lopez (2-for-5, RBI) joined four others with multi-hit efforts.
The Mountain East Conference’s leading hitter Aaron Finlay went 3-for-6 and extended his reached-base streak to 22 games this spring. Collins’ (1-for-5, 2 RBI) streak increased to 24 straight, while both Blue Knights have reached safely in the previous 28 contests dating back to last season.
Davis (2-for-3) and Barea (2-for-4, 3 RBI) also contributed more than one base knock.
UU cycled through six pitchers as lefty Colt Woolever earned his first career win. Woolever threw the final 1.2 innings.
It was the second time this season that these two teams played extra innings. OVU claimed a 3-1 triumph in Game 2 of the season-opening series back in February. The season series is now tied at 2-2.
The Blue Knights also improved to 2-1 during extra-inning contests.
UU returns to MEC play this weekend with a four-game series at division leader Shepherd (16-8, 9-3).
