Zietara's big day helps Bees get split with Eagles
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Judson (IL) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 2 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 6 | 5 | 3 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Judson (IL) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 2 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 0 |
Photo courtesy Scott McCreary
Adrian Zietara's sixth hit of the doubleheader scored Bryce Vincent in the bottom of the eighth inning with what proved to be the winning run as St. Ambrose salvaged a split with a 6-5 victory Friday afternoon in Elgin, Ill.
SAU, playing as the home team, was forced to rally after Judson (9-33, 4-20 CCAC) scored three runs in the top of the first. Brandon Matias got two of those back when he belted a two-run home run to center in the bottom of the frame.
The Eagles added a run in the third to go up 4-2. Joey Fitzgerald tied the game with a double that scored Zietara and Garrett Latoz in the bottom of the third. Later in the inning, Jake Mucha lined a sacrifice fly to center to score Matias with a go-ahead run.
A solo shot from Judson tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth, but Zietara came through with a two-out single in the bottom of the inning to bring in Vincent with the game winner.
Zietara and Matias each had two hits in the nightcap.
Aidan Goggins picked up the win with an inning of relief. Parker Ruth tossed a scoreless ninth to earn the save. Brad Niedzwiedz started and allowed four runs over seven innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.
The Bees were stunned by the Eagles 11-10 in the opener. SAU (19-18, 13-11 CCAC) built an early 5-1 lead thanks to RBI singles from Vincent, Dan Laughery and Noah McCreary, and a two-run double from Zietara in the second. Laughery singled in Fitzgerald in the third and Matias drove in McCreary with a single in the fourth to extend the lead to 7-2.
Judson got two of those runs back in the top of the fifth then exploded for six runs in the sixth to go in front 10-7. The Eagles added another run in the seventh.
In the bottom of the inning, St. Ambrose made a late push. Mucha, Brock Webber and Laughery walked to load the bases, and with two outs, Zietara laced a double to left to clear the bases and cut the deficit to 11-10. But the rally ended there as McCreary flied out to end the game.
Zietara (4-for-5, five RBIs) and Laughery (3-for-3, two RBIs) accounted for seven of the team's 11 hits.
Danny Molony was charged with the loss in relief of Frank Quinn. Alex Heckroth and Jake Jacek also pitched in relief.
The two teams will complete their four-game series with another doubleheader in Elgin, Ill., Saturday.