With runners on first and third, sophomore Jack Christian stepped up to the plate. All he needed was a hit, and the Cavs would walk away with their second win of the season.
Christian took the first pitch and hit a fly ball to right field, enough to bring senior Adam Dean home, for a nail-biting, 10-9 win.
But the Cavs’ second win of the season was far from easy.
At the end of the top of the first, the Cavs had given up five runs.
The bottom of the first started off rough as well. Senior lead-off hitter Aidan Cunningham struck out with a full count.
But after Christian reached first off of an error, things began to turn around for the Cavs.
After a walk, a double by senior Emil Erickson brought the score to 1-5.
Then sophomore Nate Jakobs scored on a passed ball, freshman Jackson Crawford stole second, Erickson stole home and senior Daniel Hernried tripled, bringing the score to 4-5.
After holding the Knights scoreless in the top of the second, the Cavs’ bats took fire.
With two outs, Christian stepped up to the plate and singled to shortstop. Jakobs followed with a triple to centerfield, bringing Christian home and tying up the game, 5-5.
Senior Zane Jakobs brought in the final run of the inning with a single to center field, bringing in Nate and putting the Cavs up, 6-5.
In the third, the Knights tied it up. And after holding the Cavs scoreless, Buckingham took a three-run lead in the fourth.
But after Cunningham and Christian were walked and two singles by the Jakobs brothers, the Cavs had cut the deficit to 8-9.
After both teams went scoreless in the fifth and the Cavs shut out the Knights in the sixth, Nate scored the tying run on an error.
With the game tied in the final inning, it was up to Zane to shut out the Knights.
After giving up two singles, the Cavs’ defense clutched up with defensive plays at the plate, ending the inning in a shutout.
This set up Christian’s game-winning, walk-off flyball to right field.
“I was trying to at least make contact with the ball,” Christian said. “I knew that all we needed (was for me to hit the ball).”
The Cavs’ next game is against the Lutheran Panthers on Thursday, April 13, at 4 p.m. at McAuliffe Field.
—By Jake Longoria
