Holthaus’ Go-Ahead Homer Lifts Reinhardt Past Brewton-Parker, 8-6

WALESKA, Ga. — Sam Holthaus delivered the decisive blow with a two-run homer in the fifth inning as Reinhardt Baseball rallied past Brewton-Parker for an 8-6 win Tuesday afternoon at Ken White Field.

The Eagles trailed 6-3 after Brewton-Parker erupted for six runs in the top of the third, but Reinhardt answered immediately and controlled the game the rest of the way. The hosts chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the third, then seized the lead for good in the fifth on Holthaus' drive to right-center. Reinhardt added an insurance run in the sixth and held Brewton-Parker scoreless over the final six frames behind the mighty arm of Austin Puett.

Reinhardt finished with eight runs on 10 hits and committed two errors, while Brewton-Parker scored six times on seven hits with two errors. The Eagles struck first with a run in the opening inning and pushed the lead to 3-0 by the end of the second, but Brewton-Parker flipped the momentum in the third. The visitors strung together four doubles in the frame, including two from Anthony Savarese and run-scoring two-baggers from Zach Carlton and Michael Son. A run-scoring groundout by Caleb Strott set the table for Marquette Gibson, who capped the rally with a two-run homer to left to put Brewton-Parker in front 6-3. This was the only inning the Eagles gave up runs to the Barons.

Reinhardt answered in the bottom half of the inning to quickly tighten the game. Miguel Salazar jump-started the response with a double to right-center that drove in Cade Chamlee, and another run came home later in the inning to cut the deficit to 6-5. From there, Eagles pitching settled in, keeping Brewton-Parker off the board while the offense continued to apply pressure.

In the fifth, Louis Dion set up the pivotal swing by reaching base, and Holthaus capitalized with his lone hit of the day, a two-run shot to right-center that turned a one-run deficit into a 7-6 Reinhardt lead. Dion finished as one of the Eagles' most productive hitters, going 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored. Holthaus closed the game with one hit, the home run, along with two RBIs and a run scored.

Reinhardt extended the margin in the sixth when Juan Pablo Morales lifted a sacrifice fly that brought home Chamlee, pushing the advantage to 8-6. That insurance run proved valuable as the Eagles protected the two-run cushion the rest of the way, stranding Brewton-Parker baserunners and overcoming their own pair of defensive miscues.

Austin Puett was the story in the pitching department.  Puett came into the game after the Eagles had lost their early lead in the third inning. He did not allow a hit or run in his four innings and kept the game in control for Holthaus to deliver his magic in the fifth inning. Dawson Radik came in to pitch the top of the ninth and closed the game out with no hits or runs, picking up the save.

The Eagles will now turn their focus to the weekend AAC series, where they will be on the road at Bryan College.  The Lions are always a formidable opponent season after season in the AAC so the Eagles will need to be ready to play so they can pick up the much-needed conference wins this weekend.  Friday is the single, and Saturday will be the doubleheader.