WINCHESTER, Ky. -- Following their victory in game two on Friday, the Midway baseball team carried that momentum into Saturday, clinching the series over Oakland City (Ind.) with a run-rule victory in their series finale.
The Eagles scored in five of their six at-bats, plating multiple runs in four of those innings en route to a comfortable 14-4 victory over the Mighty Oaks, who are currently ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.
The three-game set was a rematch of last year's conference championship and was named the River States Conference Series of the Week by the league office.
The Eagles couldn't have asked for a better start, scoring 10 runs over the first three innings — three in the first, one in the second, and six in the third.
Colt Whaley delivered a two-run double in the first, and
Noah Atherholt later added an RBI single. In the second inning,
Bradey LaGreca drove in a run with a single to right field, pushing Midway's lead to 4-0.
LaGreca stepped to the plate again with the bases loaded in the third and laced a bases-clearing double down the right-field line. The inning also featured RBIs from
Max Jewusiak (bases loaded walk),
Isaac Tencza (bases loaded hit by pitch), and
Pedro Morales (RBI single).
After being held scoreless in the fourth, Midway responded with two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth,
Scott Kendrick hit a two-run single to left field, while Morales drove in his second run of the day in the sixth after legging out an infield single.
Midway's offensive support proved more than enough for the pitching trio of
Tyler Pyles,
Brady Binder, and
Jose Aviles.
Pyles earned the start and picked up the win, improving to 4-0 on the season after pitching five strong innings. The southpaw struck out six while allowing two runs on six hits.
Binder allowed one run in his inning of work, while Aviles struck out the side in the seventh after allowing one run on two hits.
Offensively, the Eagles recorded eight hits, with Morales leading the way by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. LaGreca also had a strong day at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored.
Luther Bramblett's squad, who improves to 13-6 overall and 4-2 in conference play with the win, returns to action Wednesday (March 11) when the Eagles host Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at 2 p.m. ET at Tracy Farmer - Don Ball Stadium.
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