Eagles Fall to Johnson Despite Early Offensive Production

Waleska, Ga. — Reinhardt University traded blows with a hot Johnson University's lineup for most of the afternoon Saturday, but a pair of early four-run frames by the Royals proved decisive in a 14-7 Eagles loss at Ken White Field. This was the third game of the three-game conference series.

Johnson struck for four runs in both the second and third innings and scored in six different innings overall, building an early cushion that Reinhardt's steady offense could not quite match. The Eagles scored in each of the first six innings and finished with 13 hits, but Johnson's 16-hit attack and repeated crooked numbers were the difference. 

Reinhardt grabbed a brief lead in the bottom of the first, when Sam Holthaus grounded into a double play that still brought in Ethan Moore for a 1-0 advantage. Johnson answered immediately in the top of the second, highlighted by a two-run triple down the right-field line as part of a four-run inning that flipped the game in the visitors' favor, 4-1.

The Eagles continued to push back in the bottom of the second as Moore singled to third base to drive in Louis Dion, trimming the margin to 4-2. Johnson, however, extended its lead again in the third, with a two-run double to left-center during another four-run frame that pushed the score to 8-2. This inning ultimately decided the game, but the Eagles kept chipping away at the lead.  Reinhardt plated two in the bottom half to stay within striking distance. The Royals kept answering, tacking on three more runs in the fourth for an 11-4 edge.

Reinhardt's power kept the game from getting out of hand. Holthaus launched a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 11-5, and Dion followed an inning later with a solo shot of his own to make it 11-6. The Eagles added another run in the sixth for their sixth straight scoring inning, but Johnson responded late, with two runs in the seventh and then added another run in the eighth to cap the scoring at 14.

Offensively, Reinhardt matched Johnson's pressure for much of the day, drawing six walks and collecting 13 hits while leaving 11 runners on base. Holthaus turned in a standout game with two hits, three runs scored and the solo homer, while Dion's solo blast added another key swing in the middle innings. The Eagles also produced a run-manufacturing approach early, capitalizing on contact plays and situational hitting to score in each of the first six frames. Dion was the hot bat for the Eagles in the game as he would produce two RBIs and score two runs, going 3 for 4 on the day.

Austin Pruitt got his third start of the season for the Eagles and showed some signs of greatness that could help the team as the season progresses.  Despite hitting 97 on the radar gun, the Royals were able to get to him in his two innings with five hits and five earned runs.  In total, Reinhardt sent seven pitchers to the mound, with each getting an inning or two.  Dawson Radik and Darius Dunn had the best showing of the group, with each of them not allowing a hit in their respective inning.

With the result, Reinhardt closes the AAC series still searching for their first conference win, but those will come as the team continues to gel and players emerge as leaders. The team will need to follow the lead of players like Louis Dion, Cade Chamlee, and pitcher Logan Lynch, who can bring experience and leadership that the Eagles had over the past couple of seasons. Reinhardt will be on the road for the midweek game against Faulkner University on Tuesday and then for the weekend AAC series at Spartanburg Methodist.

photo courtesy of Hunter Paulsen, Graduate Assistant