GAME ONE RECAP

MEADVILLE, Pa. – An unforgettable comeback kicked off senior day in memorable fashion for the Gators, as Allegheny came firing back from a 7-0 deficit in the fifth inning of a seven-run game one to pick up an 11-10, eight-inning win on Saturday afternoon at Robertson Complex.

Senior Adam Bronson launched the game-winning double with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, scoring classmate Zach Gray and awarding Allegheny home field advantage during next week's North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Crossover series against a yet to be determined opponent. 

Bronson's game-winner was the last of several massive hits for the Gators, as a game-tying, two-out single by freshman Cullen Flaherty in the seventh and a two-run home run by senior Zach Gray also aided the Allegheny effort.

Trailing by four with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Gators launched an improbable comeback, sending the game into extras.  After a double-play brought the Gators down to their final out, junior Joe Killian opened the scoring after a wild pitch.  Senior Ben Murray fought back to force a full-count walk to put a man aboard. 

Freshman Tyler Wagner followed by scalding a double to right center, moving Murray to third before sophomore Shea Beaumont took a 1-0 fastball up the middle, glancing off of the shortstop's glove into the outfield to score Murray and pinch runner R.J. Baker, closing the gap to 10-9.

Sophomore Andrew Dawson pinch ran for Beaumont, stealing second to move the game-tying run into scoring position.  Facing a 2-2 count, Cullen Flaherty came through for the Gators with a single to right field, bringing Dawson home and sending the game into extras.

Kenyon started the scoring with a pair of runs in the third, doing most of the damage in a five-run fifth that put the Lords up, 7-0.  Sophomore Robert DiMaggio started the Gators' offense by dropping a single down the right field line that scored Beaumont on Murray.  Gray followed with a two-run blast to left center, clearing the wall with room to spare and reducing the deficit to 7-4. 

A three-run home run by Kenyon's Phillip Nam gave the visitors a six-run cushion at 10-4 before Beaumont started the rally with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Bronson in the sixth.  Flaherty followed with a 3-1 single to score Murray, setting the stage for the squad's rally in the seventh by reducing the Kenyon lead to 10-6.

Gray finished the contest batting 2-for-5 with a pair of runs driven in and two runs scored, as Beaumont batted in a team-high three runs.  Flaherty came through late for the Gators, batting 2-of-4 with two runs driven in, as Wagner scattered a pair of hits to assist in the Allegheny effort.  Freshman Jameson Murray earned the win, hurling a scoreless eighth inning after senior Matt Jankowiak and freshman Nick DiBucci hurled a scoreless seventh that kept the Gators in contention prior to the late rally.

GAME TWO RECAP

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Gators trailed Kenyon 5-4.  However, the Gators seemed cool, relaxed and confident.  After all, they had been in this situation before. Three hours ago.

Allegheny again rallied behind clutch hitting by their corps of seniors, as Zach Gray crushed a walk-off home run to center field to cap the Gators' second rally of the afternoon, vaulting the home team to a 6-5, eight-inning win over Kenyon to wrap up the Saturday sweep at Robertson Complex.

After shutting down the Kenyon offense in the top of the seventh, Gray took a high fastball on a 1-0 pitch to straightaway center field, clearing the furthest wall of the field and sending the remainder of the team into an absolute frenzy, as Allegheny was able to celebrate the second walk-off hit in four hours as the Gators clinched their third consecutive NCAC Crossover series at Robertson complex next weekend.

The Lords aimed to salvage the split putting a runner in scoring position with only one out, but sophomore Robert DiMaggio made a crucial defensive play, snagging a low line drive and doubling up the runner at second to set the stage for Gray's game-winning moonshot.  Gray finished the game batting 4-for-4, driving in three runs while scoring two. 

Gray's game-ending blast was the final chapter of what was an absolutely memorable afternoon for the 2015 Gator seniors, as Ben Murray drove home classmate Adam Bronson in the bottom of the seventh, tying the contest at 5-5 with one out in the inning.

Allegheny led game two, 4-0, in the second after plating a pair of runs in both the first and second innings.  In the bottom of the first, Gray forced a four-pitch walk to put the first Allegheny runner on base.  After two more walks loaded the bases, Bronson hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Gray to open the scoring.  A throwing error by the Kenyon catcher allowed Killian to score, giving Allegheny the early, 2-0 lead.  A two-RBI single to left by Gray scored freshmen Dan Bonnett and Cullen Flaherty, pushing the lead to four runs.

The Lords scored two runs in the third, tying the game in the fourth before taking the lead in the sixth, setting the stage, once again, for the Gator heroics.

Freshman Jameson Murray picked up his second win of the afternoon on the mound, pitching a scoreless eighth.  Senior Paul Vojtek got the start, striking out a pair of batters compared to no walks over 3.2 innings pitched.  Junior Hayden Smith entered in relief, throwing 3.1 innings of two-hit ball, striking out two while only allowing one run.

The Gators and Lords will return to Robertson Complex on Sunday to lose out their regular season series with a doubleheader set to start at 12 p.m.