After splitting the first two games of a four-game series against the Indians on Saturday, the Stingers settled the issue with a sweep on Sunday by overcoming a four-run deficit to win 6-5 in eight innings in game one and holding on for an 8-5 victory in the nightcap. In the bottom of the eighth inning of game one, Will Chandler laced a Kyle Pittman fastball into left field to score Drew Hardee and end the game for Tech. Chandler went 2-for-4 with three RBI in the twinbill, walking four times and getting hit by a pitch.
For most of the opener, however, it seemed as if Tech’s offensive woes from Saturday carried into Sunday as the Stingers trailed 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Then the bats woke up. Todd Joyner struck the first blow with an RBI single to slice the deficit to 5-2 with one out. Chandler then beat out a potential game-ending double-play grounder to drive home another run. After Nick Lacik cut the score to 5-4 with an RBI hit to left, Trevor Hovis officially made the Indians’ advantage disappear with a single to left field to plate Chandler and send the game into extra innings.
The Stingers’ rally made a winner of Chris Nelson. The freshman right-hander blanked USCS on one hit in one inning of relief. Pittman took the loss for the Indians, allowing three runs, all earned, on five hits in 1 1/3 innings. The sidearmer fanned one batter and walked another. The emotion from game one’s comeback carried into the nightcap Stingers. Hardee finished 4-for-9 with three RBI to lead Tech. In addition to his game-tying single in the opener, Hovis homered in the nightcap and finished with two RBI and three runs scored in the twinbill.
Tony Ford picked up the win in game two for Tech, scattering two runs on 11 hits in five-plus innings. The freshman fanned three batters and walked one. After earning the win in the opener, Nelson tossed two-thirds-of-an inning with a strikeout to earn the save in the nightcap.
Adrian Rivero suffered the loss for USCS, allowing seven runs, six earned, on just five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Rivero issued four free passes and struck out none.
