JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University baseball team won the rubber game of the series against Lee Universty to take the weekend series at Fesmire Field. A walk-off hit by
Joseph Hufstedler in the bottom of the ninth gave Union the 7-6 win.
Union improved ot 10-11 overall and 4-8 in the Gulf South Conference. Lee dropped to 15-6 on the season and 7-5 in league play.
The two teams split Friday's doubleheader with Lee winning 13-3 in game one, while Union won game two, 4-0.
Union trailed 5-0 in game three of the series after Lee put up three in the third, followed by one each in the fourth and fifth innings.
Union added two runs in the fifth, both unearned. Union added a run in the sixth when
Cody Tjomsland drove in
Jordan Allen with a single. Lee tacked on a run in the 8th to lead 6-3.
Union scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. It started with an RBI ground out with the bases loaded by
Elijah Ramsey. Union added two more runs when a wild pitch turned into two runs with the help of an error.
Then after
Chris Troyer (2-1) got the final two outs of the top of the ninth in relief with an inning-ending double play, Union came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. Allen singled down the left field line to start the inning.
Matthew Autry pinch ran for Allen and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Caleb Davis. After pitch hitter
Caden Walker was intentionally walked, the two base runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch. This brought up
Joseph Hufstedler who entered the game as a defensive sub at shortstop early in the game. Hufstedler worked the count full and then laced a solid single into right center field to score Autry and give Union the win.
Allen led Union with three hits while Hufstdler and
Nick Stamper added two hits each. Union managed just three RBI in the game, one each from Ramsey, Tjomsland, and Hufstedler.
Takuma Sato went 3.1 innings in the start, allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Cole Lannom was solid in middle relief, going five innings, allowing two runs, one earned on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Troyer faced just one batter in the top of the ninth, getting the double play and setting up the walk-off opportunity.
Up next for Union will be a non-conference trip to UT Martin Tuesday, March 10 at 5 p.m.
-UNION-
