Eagles Split Extra-Inning Doubleheader at Union College
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. — Reinhardt University split a road doubleheader at Union College on Saturday, using a fifth-inning surge to take the opener 6-2 before falling 3-2 in nine innings in the nightcap at Union Field.
The Eagles opened the day with a 6-2 victory in Game 1, breaking open a tight contest with a four-run fifth inning. After falling behind 1-0 in the first, Reinhardt pulled even in the third on an RBI single from Shallyn Olszowy that scored Hallee Shirley. One inning later, Ansley Hight gave the Eagles their first lead with a solo home run to left field in the top of the fourth, and Reinhardt never trailed again.
Reinhardt put the game out of reach in the fifth, turning a 2-2 tie into a 6-2 advantage. The Eagles' four-run frame was highlighted by an RBI fielder's choice from Emily Pettit and an RBI double off the bat of Hight as the offense capitalized on Union miscues and timely hitting. Shirley set the table throughout the game with two hits, two runs scored and a stolen base, while Hight finished with two hits, including the homer and a double, and drove in two.
Right-hander Macy Langley handled the rest in the circle, going the distance for the complete-game win. Langley scattered six hits over seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out four on 114 pitches, stranding nine Union baserunners to preserve the lead. Union's offense produced single runs in the first and third innings, including an RBI single from Savanna Higgins, but Reinhardt's defense and Langley's ability to work out of traffic kept additional damage off the board.
In Game 2, Reinhardt mounted a late comeback but dropped a 3-2 decision in nine innings as Union walked off with the split. Union jumped in front with a two-run third inning, fueled by an RBI from Lily Allen and aided by a defensive mistake to build a 2-0 cushion. The Eagles began chipping away in the fifth when Maggie English delivered an RBI single to trim the deficit to 2-1.
Reinhardt pushed the game to extras with another timely at-bat from Olszowy in the seventh. Her RBI groundout brought home the tying run to make it 2-2, and the Eagles' pitching staff carried that momentum deep into extra innings. Freshman right-hander Anslie Pettit turned in a dominant outing, striking out 16 over eight innings while limiting Union to five hits and two runs, keeping Reinhardt in position to win throughout regulation.
Union finally broke through in the bottom of the ninth. Higgins doubled to put the winning run in scoring position, and two batters later Ashleigh McLeskey delivered a two-out single through the left side to plate the decisive run. Union's Maggie Haydu went the distance in the circle, throwing nine innings and allowing six hits and two runs with six strikeouts on 120 pitches to outduel Pettit in the extra-inning finale.
With the split, Reinhardt showed both its offensive punch and frontline pitching depth on the road, getting a complete game from Langley in the opener and a 16-strikeout performance from Pettit in the second game. The Eagles will look to carry that combination of timely hitting and power pitching into their upcoming conference doubleheaders.