Redshirt senior third baseman Ethan Valdez’s walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th sealed a 7-6 victory and series win for the Spring Hill College baseball team against conference foe Savannah State at Sims-Galle Field on Sunday.
After a scoreless 10th inning to start off the extra frames, Jackson Bell singled to left field and during the following at-bat, advanced on a wild pitch. Jack Taylormoved Bell 90 feet closer to home when he reached on an error by the third baseman.
Savannah State (11-2, 7-2 SIAC) then intentionally walked Parker Serio. Valdez brought home the game-winning and series-clinching run with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Spring Hill (11-7, 8-1 SIAC) battled the Tigers after falling behind 1-0 in the third inning. Taylor’s RBI single tied the game in the sixth and Valdez’s two-run RBI single pushed the Badgers ahead 3-1.
SSU went up 6-3 in the top of the ninth before Nick Hunter reached base on a walk and was brought home when Seth Williams hit a home run to right field. Jackson Bell doubled to right field before being brought home to tie the game at 6-6 on a sacrifice fly by Jack Taylor.
SHC starting pitcher Harun Pelja threw 7.0 innings and allowed only four hits and four runs (two earned) with 10 strikeouts in his fifth start of the season. Evan Langston (3-0) came in relief in the eighth and sat down four batters while only giving up five hits and a single unearned run across 4.0 innings.
Luis De La Cruz (1-1) took the loss on the mound for Savannah State after giving up the game-winning run.
Bell led the Badgers with three runs and four hits in five at-bats. Valdez tallied three RBI on one hit in four at-bats, including the game-winner in the bottom of the 11th.
Game Details
Date: March 3
Time: 1 p.m.
Venue (Location): Sims-Galle Field (Mobile, Ala.)
Results
Spring Hill 7, Savannah State 6 (11 Inn.)
Records: Spring Hill (11-7, 8-1 SIAC), Savannah State (11-2, 7-2 SIAC)
Up Next
Spring Hill will prepare to host Auburn Montgomery in a doubleheader on Wednesday at Sims-Galle Field. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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