TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 18, 2015) - Tallahassee Community College stepped out of Panhandle Conference play on Wednesday and swept a doubleheader from Black Hawk College-Moline (Ill.).
Tallahassee won game one, 9-2, then held on for a thrilling 4-3 victory in the nightcap.
In game two, the Eagles took a 4-1 lead to the fifth before the Braves pushed two runs across to pull within a run.
Black Hawk made things even more interesting in the top of the seventh.
Tallahassee closer Matt Schaeffer retired the Braves’ leadoff hitter but gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases with one out. Just as Black Hawk was poised to come back to win the game, Schaeffer escaped the jam with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game and record the save.
The Eagles were outhit, 10-2, in game two but took advantage of eight walks by Black Hawk starter and losing pitcher Connor Riley.
Riley had control problems from the outset, walking the first four batters he faced in the first. Riley forth walk of the game brought home the Eagles Ethan Crout for the first run of the game.
Black Hawk tied the game in the second then Tallahassee scored a pair of runs in the third but only managed one hit.
With nobody on and two outs, Riley hit Wilson to extend the inning. After Zach Featherstone singled, a walk and a wild pitch resulted in the first run of the inning, scored by Wilson. Riley walked the next two batters, the latter coming with the bases loaded to score Featherstone and give Tallahassee a 3-1 advantage.
The Eagles scored their final run in the fourth when Riley uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Crout to score from third.
Craig Olson got the win in game two for Tallahassee. He pitched 4.1 innings, allowed one run and six hits. He struck out three.
Crout had one of the Eagles’ two hits and drew two walks. He scored twice.
Tallahassee pulled away late in game one to complete the 9-2 victory.
Black Hawk scored two runs in its first at-bat against starter and winning pitcher Chris Elander, but that’s all the offense the Braves would muster.
Elander pitched five innings of three-hit ball and struck out seven. Schaeffer inherited a 4-2 lead in the sixth and pitched the final two innings for the save.
Tallahassee put the game away in the sixth, sending ten men to the plate during a five-run outburst.
Geremy Walton led the Eagles’ 12-hit attack going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Tallahassee will close non-conference play with a two-game set against East Georgia State College. Game one is at 4 p.m. Friday.
***TCC Athletics
