Four-run fourth keeps SAU alive at CCAC Tournament
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Ambrose | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
|
Olivet Nazarene | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
Chris McFarland and Noah McCreary each had a two-run hit as part of a four-run fourth inning to help St. Ambrose keep its season alive with a 5-3 win over Olivet Nazarene in an elimination game at the CCAC Tournament Friday afternoon.
The win moves the Bees into a 10 a.m. game Saturday against St. Francis, the top seed in the draw who fell to Indiana South Bend 11-7 Friday.
SAU trailed 2-0 through three innings against Olivet Nazarene before the offense came to life in the fourth.
Cooper Huckabone got things started by drawing a walk. One out later, Bryce Vincent singled and Jake Mucha singled to load the bases. McFarland followed with a two-run single to right to tie the game. Mike Pawyza walked and then with two outs, McCreary slashed a two-run double down the left field line to put the Bees in front 4-2.
The Tigers pulled within a run at 4-3 in the seventh. But the Bees got it right back in the top of the eighth with McFarland picking up his third RBI of the game on a sacrifice bunt to score Brock Webber.
Hunter Keim recorded the final six outs to earn the save. Joey Turek picked up the win with five strong innings of relief work. He allowed six hits and just one earned run. Jacob Bosse started and surrendered a pair of unearned runs over the first two frames.
Vincent finished 3-for-4 at the plate. Webber, Adrian Zietara and Nate Villagomez also had hits in the victory.