JV: Allen Prevails vs Lovejoy

After almost two hours, the game had not progressed past the fourth inning. Slow-working batteries, along with a combination of 12 men left on base and 12 walks (or HBPs) for both teams turned the game from a sprint to a marathon. During the first three innings, Allen saw a meticulously constructed 3-0 lead turn to a 4-3 deficit thanks to a Lovejoy outburst of patience at the plate and timely hitting. The Leopards were silenced in their half of the fourth, before the Eagle bats finally warmed up.

Cornell took the hill for the Eagles to start the game. He struck out two in the first. In Allen's half of the first, Samuel, Cooper and Crear walked with one-out. Koenigsman's SAC fly brought Samuel home and advanced the runners.Cornell's single to left drove home Cooper, providing Allen with a 2-0 lead after one.

The second inning began in promising fashion for the Leopards, as their first two batters reached via error and walk. But Cornell settled down and struck out the 7-, 8-, and 9-hitters in the order to close the inning and leave two stranded. Allen managed to manufacture a lone run in their half of the frame.

Nine-hole hitter Majors led off with an infield single and was moved to second by theu Delaney SAC bunt. Majors then stole third and was plated on the ground-ball-out to first by Samuel. That closed the scoring threat, but Allen had built a 3-0 lead after two.

Cornell's second trip through the Lovejoy order wasnt as kind as the first. Two walks, a single and two HBPs marked the end of his day. Reams relieved Cornell with the bases loaded, no outs and two already home. A single to the his batter brought home the tieing run. A strikeout was followed by a 4-3 put-out which plated the go-ahead run for Lovejoy. A walk of the nine-hole hitter loaded the bases for the top of the order. The Lovejoy lead-off hitter popped-out to second to end the inning, but Lovejoy held their first lead, 4-3, going to the bottom of the third.

Allen's half of the third was scoreless. The first two batters reached by walk and single and reach scoring position with no outs. But two strikeouts looking and a 6-3 stranded both runners. Lovejoy's lead was in-tact after three. The top of the fourth inning began as the second and third had for Lovejoy - with the first batter reaching via walk. But a strikeout, a 4-3, and fly ball to center ended the Lovejoy day at the plate. With time running out, Allen had one last opportunity to win.

Majors again beat out an infield single to start the inning. This time, he stole second before being pushed to third by Delaney's single. Delaney took second on "defensive indifference" as they were more interested in keeping the tieing run at third with no outs. Samuel pushed Majors home on what was scored as a fielder's choice. Allen had tied the game at four apiece. However, Samuel reached first when indecision kept the Lovejoy third basenman from making a play at first - all hands safe. Cooper then doubled to drive home Delaney, giving Allen a 5-4 lead and ending the day for the Lovejoy starter.

To greet the Lovejoy relief pitcher, Valderrama took his first to the right side of the infield, bringing Samuel home and moving Cooper to third. A wild pitch during Koenigsman's AB brought Cooper home. Koenigsman walked and took second on a pick off move that went bad at first base. After the next batter struck out for the inning's second out, the game was called for time and a 7-4 win was in the books for Allen.