Game Ten: Southern Illinois 14, Saga, JP 8

Both teams battled back and forth for the win, but Southern Illinois’ seven-run inning in the bottom of the sixth allowed the host team to pull out a win.

Saga, JP started the game with a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. A single by Hibiki Ashiya brought in the two runs.

On a single of their own, Southern Illinois cut Saga’s lead in half in the bottom of the first. 

In the bottom of the second, Drew Barrington scored on an error by Saga’s pitcher to tie the game. During the same at-bat, Southern Illinois took a 3-2 from a ground ball single.

Saga recaptured its lead in the top of the third. A line drive double to left field re-tied the game. An error and a walk provided them with a 5-3 lead. A single at the end made the game 7-3 in Saga’s favor. 

Southern Illinois cut Saga’s lead by scoring on an error in the bottom of the third.

Neither team scored in the fourth inning, but Southern Illinois made it a tie game in the bottom of the fifth. A triple by Drew Barrington scored three runs. An error scored the fourth run of the bottom of the fifth, making the score 7 apiece.

Saga scored in the top of the sixth, scoring their eighth and final run on a fielder’s choice.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Southern Illinois scored seven runs to take the game. The scoring started with a walk, a wild pitch and a hit-by-pitch to take a 10-8 lead. Drew Barrington’s bat was still going strong, as he hit an inside-the-park home run to score three runs. 

A single later in the bottom of the sixth made the score 14-8, with Saga unable to make up enough runs in the top of the seventh.

View the Box Score Here