TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Behind the pitching of sophomore righty Chris Elander, the Tallahassee Community College Eagles took game one of a three-game series, 4-1, against nationally-ranked Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) Community College on Friday evening at Eagle Field.
From the outset, a pitchers’ duel ensued as both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings.
Tallahassee finally jumped on the board first, putting up two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Zach Featherstone got it all started with a double down the right field line. Robert Henderson followed suit with a double of his own to plate Featherstone and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. After Henderson advanced to third, a sac-fly to deep left by Kyle Taddeo plated the second run of the inning.
Elander held the Pirates scoreless through five innings, surrendering their only run in the sixth.
Clinging to a one-run lead, Tallahassee adding a pair of insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Ethan Crout scored off a single by Tyler Atwell in the seventh then Crout singled home Taddeo in the eighth to extend the Eagles’ lead to 4-1.
Tyler Atwell went 2-for-4 from the plate with one RBI.
Elander, in his fifth start, went 7.1 innings and struck out seven batters on his way to his first win (1-0) this season.
Matt Schaeffer took the mound in relief in the seventh inning and earned his second save.
The Eagles and Pirates will play game two of the series at 2 p.m. Saturday.
*TCC Sports Information
