By Staff
Ryan Satcher/staff writer
March 1, 2002
The Eagles of Meridian Community College lost another game by one frustrating run as they fell to visiting Danville Community College 7-6 in Thursday baseball action.
The Eagles scored three runs in the sixth inning and two more in the eighth but it was not enough to make the comeback.
Danville got on the board in the first inning to take the early lead. Mike Collins lead off the game with a hit down the left field line for a double. Alfonso Lopez bunted Collins to third and Greg Corder knocked him in with a sacrifice fly and the Jaguars took an early 1-0 lead.
The Jaguars added to their lead in the fourth inning when Geoff Desmond got a one-out single. Gary Berry followed with a hit to move Desmond to third and Jason Reese scored him with a groundout.
With a 2-0 lead already, the visitors scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Collins walked to lead off the inning. After a ground out moved him to second Corder delivered a single to score Collins from second and make the score 3-0. An error on a groundball gave the Jaguars runners at first and second. The runners moved over on a ground out, but the Eagles looked like they might get out of the inning when Berry followed with a ground ball. The throw to first, however, was in the dirt and got by the first baseman allowing both runners to score and Danville looked to be in control with a 5-0 lead.
The Eagles answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Lance Dawkins singled to start the inning and moved to third on two groundouts. A pitch got away from the catcher and Dawkins was able to come across and make the score 5-1.
The Eagles were able to plate three runs in the sixth inning to cut into the Jaguar lead. Adam Smith started the inning with a double and was knocked in on Drew Van Sickle's double to make the score 5-2. Van Sickle moved to third on a wild pitch and later scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to two. A couple of walks gave the Eagles some runners on base and Brad McKee knocked in Dawkins from second with a hit. The runner at third rounded the bag too far and was caught off by the Jaguar defense and the Eagle threat ended with the score 5-4.
The Jaguars scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to respond and make the lead three runs once again. The Eagles were not out, however, and came back for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Dawkins reached on an error and Nate Sanders walked to give MCC some runners on base. An errant throw on a double-play attempt allowed the Eagles to score and Tyler Scarbrough followed with an RBI single. The Eagles left the runners stranded and trailed 7-6 after eight innings of play.
The Eagles made a last inning attempt to tie. Van Sickle got hit by a pitch, but the pinch runner for the Eagles was caught off by the catcher to make the second out of the inning. Dawkins followed with a single but was gunned down on a steal attempt as he tried to move into scoring position.
The Eagles drop to 5-9 on the season with the loss. They will travel to play in the Panola Tournament today at 9 a.m. and also will play on Saturday and Sunday.