Friday night March 13th, BUF began a series with regional opponent Paine College. Friday they played under the lights on the Holmes County High School field and Saturday games were played on the practice field.
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Game 1
Isaiah Spencer started the game for BUF. He struck out 7 in the game and through 6 innings had not allowed a run, but the run support was not there. The Eagles were unable to get on the board. In the 2nd inning
Zane Alford doubled on a line drive to left and Adam Gieger singled, but the runners were unable to be moved. In the 3rd
Evan Wallace walked,
Quincy McFadden hit a double to center, and
Ivan Membreno walked with 1 out to load the bases for what would be BUF's best chance to score, but they were left on base. In the 7th Paine scored 2 and the Eagles were unable to come back. The Eagles lost 0-2.
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Game 2
The bats were again quiet for the Eagles. The Eagles were scoreless through 5 innings and down 0-7. In the 6th
Connor Ward led off with a double to right field,
Tucker Nix singled, and then
Cale Barnes walked to load the bases with no outs. Ward scored, but that was all the Eagles were able to do as this game ended 1-7. Ward was the lone Eagle with a multi-hit day, and he also scored the lone run.
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Game 3
BUF went down 0-3 after 2 innings and the Eagles were looking at possibly being swept in a regional series coming off a 4-game winning streak. Membreno led off the inning with a hard-hit ball to center for a single, and then
Quincy McFadden came up to the plate and hit one hard to the outfield. There was an error and Membreno turned on the jets going around the base path to score as McFadden went to 3rd. Alford drove him in with a line drive double and BUF had their first multi-run inning of the series.
In the 4th BUF scored 2 more and took a 4-3 lead.
Tucker Nix and
Eli Albury scored via a McFadden single. In the 5th and 6th neither team scored, but in the top of the 7th Paine scored 2 to take a 1 run lead. BUF would have to score 1 run to force extra innings or 2 to win the game.
Ward came in to pinch hit with 1 out and he was hit by a pitch to get on 1
st base.
Frederick De La Rosa singled to center and then with 2 outs both runners advanced. Nix came to the plate with 2 outs and 2 runners in scoring position. He quickly went ahead 3-0 in the count after 3 balls, but then the pitcher threw 2 strikes and the count was full. BUF was one pitch away from defeat.
The next pitch came and Nix hit a hard ground ball to left. It got by the outstretched arm of the Paine 3rd baseman and Ward scored to tie it up. The 3rd base coach
Hunter McKown waved in De La Rosa and he ran for home. De La Rosa slid as the throw came but it was wide. De La Rosa scored to go up 5-4 and the Eagles players ran out on the field to mob Nix after his 2 RBI hit to win the game.
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