VERSAILLES, Ky. -- After beginning the series with a doubleheader last Thursday, the Midway University baseball team hosted Brescia (Ky.) on Monday at Chandler Field as they finished their series with one nine inning game.
Midway had already won the series with wins of 15-3 and 4-3, but on Monday they looked to finish off their second series sweep of the season. They did just that as they scored two runs in the seventh to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 lead as they held on for the 5-4 victory.
With the win, Luther Bramblett's squad wins their fifth River States Conference series of the season as they move to 25-21 overall and 14-10 in league play. The Eagles sit 1.5 games back of Point Park (Pa.) in fourth, while leading Asbury (Ky.) in sixth by 2.5 games.
Following a quick 1-2-3 inning to open the game, the Eagles got on the board in their half of the first. Layne Peavler (Harrodsburg, Ky.) singled and then later scored when Kurt Paldino (Overland Park, Kans.) reached on an error.
Midway was back at it in the third with another run pushing their lead to 2-0. Peavler got on with a leadoff walk, while Tyson Orr (Nashville, Tenn.) laid down a sac bunt moving Peavler to third. He then scored two batters later on a sac fly from Koy Lindsey (Campbellsville, Ky.).
The 2-0 cushion looked like it was going to be more than enough for Brandon Aoki (Camarillo, Calif.) who breezed through the first two innings. He retired the first eight batters in order, but a two-out error followed by a single in the third spoiled any chance of a no-hitter.
The senior got out of the jam in the third but couldn't do so in the fourth. The Bearcats (12-27, 7-16 RSC) squared some balls up off the southpaw as the visitors plated four runs – three earned – on five hits taking a 4-2 lead.
Brescia starter, Tyler Milby, used the lead to his advantage with a pair of 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth, but he ran into trouble in the sixth before surrendering the lead in the seventh.
In the sixth, Midway needed just one swing of the bat to cut the lead in half. Kurt Paldino led the inning off and wasted no time as he clubbed the first pitch he saw. The sophomore sent it over the fence in right-center field for his 10th home run of the season.
Then in the seventh, Midway took the lead for good. Tyrin Orr (Nashville, Tenn.) was hit before Tyson Orr reached on a two-out walk. Graeham Luttor (Toronto, Canada) then sent a bloop single into shallow right scoring Tyrin and Tyson as the home squad grabbed the 5-4 lead.
Aoki was then pulled to start the eighth as Jonathan Hook (Tamarac, Fla.) took over looking for a two-inning save. The junior didn't allow a base runner as he fanned three to collect his first save of the season.
Aoki, meanwhile, got the win moving to 6-3 on the season. He allowed the runs in the fourth before getting out of another jam in the fifth. He then finished strong with a pair of 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh.
The Eagles had just four hits, but it was just enough for the win. Paldino went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, Luttor added a hit and two RBI's, while Koy Lindsey had the other RBI for the Eagles on the sacrifice fly. Peavler chipped in a hit and two runs in a winning effort.
The Eagles are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they host Mid-South Conference foe Cumberlands (Ky.) at Chandler Field in the final home game of the season. The Patriots are currently ranked No. 5 in the country as they are 40-5 overall on the season.
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