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Box Score
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Adam Knaack blasted the
biggest hit of the game, a two-run home run to tie the score at 6-6 in the
ninth. |
TERRE HAUTE, IND. –
For the second straight game, the Rose-Hulman baseball team scored three runs in
the ninth inning to earn a dramatic victory, this time by a 7-6 margin over
Manchester College at Art Nehf Field on Friday.
Senior Adam Knaack
(McHenry, Ill./West) turned a 6-4 deficit into a 6-6 tie with his first
career home run with one out in the ninth inning.
"Adam put a charge
into that one. He's a doubles and singles hitter, but big players step up
in big situations," said Rose-Hulman head coach Jeff Jenkins.
Junior Gabe Focke
(St. Leon/East Central) followed the round tripper with a walk and advanced
to third on a single by freshman Chandler Kent (Antioch, Ill.).
Following a walk to
junior Michael Matsui (Joliet, Ill./ Plainfield South), senior Matt
Pepelea (Terre Haute/South) ended the game with a sacrifice fly to secure
the win.
"It was a great
comeback. It's more proof that you have to battle all 27 outs. This
is just another outstanding team effort," said Jenkins.
Rose-Hulman improved
to 5-0 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference games and stands 11-6 overall
after the victory. Manchester, the defending league champions, dropped to
7-9 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Knaack led the
Engineer offense with three hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Kent and
senior Matt Salisbury (Fort Wayne/Homestead) each added two hits, with
Salisbury scoring twice.
Scott Tarnowski led
Manchester's 14-hit attack with three hits and two runs scored. Josh Buell
snapped the 4-4 tie with a two-run triple in the ninth inning among his three
RBIs.
Rose-Hulman jumped
out to a 1-0 lead with a team effort leading to a second inning run.
Salisbury blasted a leadoff triple to
center field, then scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Tim Braun (Evergreen
Park, Ill./ Brother Rice).
After Manchester
scored twice to gain a 2-1 lead in the fourth, senior Kellen Hurst
(Noblesville) blasted a two-run home run over the left field wall to give
Rose-Hulman a 3-2 edge after four frames.
The Spartans battled
back to take a 4-3 lead with a pair of seventh inning runs. Rose-Hulman
answered again, however, with a double by Braun and a bunt single by junior
Adam Knaack (McHenry, Ill./West) to tie the score at 4-4 after seven frames.
The two teams
conclude their HCAC series with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday at
Rose-Hulman's Art Nehf Field. |
