TUCSON, Ariz. -- Allegheny opened up play at the Tucson Invitational Games with a doubleheader split against Macalester (Minn.) at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, dropping the first game by a 17-1 count before rallying for a 6-2 win in the night cap.
In the second game, the Gators trailed 1-0 through five-and-a-half innings, but the offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to take control. Three consecutive walks with one out loaded the bases and senior
Brandon Pouch (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) then delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single through the right side to give Allegheny its first lead of the day. A pinch-hit, squeeze bunt by senior
Max Sessions (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) then scored junior right fielder
Keegan Phillips (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), 3-1. After an intentional walk to sophomore pinch hitter
Luke Chutko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), the Gators got back-to-back doubles from freshman second baseman
Brett Heckert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) (one run) and senior shortstop
Austin Bristol (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) (two runs) which broke the game open and made it 6-1.
The Scots loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but junior
Jarod Deagan (Copley, Ohio/Copley), after walking in a run, shut the door for the victory as he improved to 1-0 this year. Deagan worked the final 2.1 innings and gave up four hits and one run while striking out three. He came on in relief of junior
Nate Pastorek (Sarver, Pa./Freeport), who worked the first 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and just one run, plus four strike outs and five walks.
Phillips drove in Allegheny's lone run in the opener with a two-out, RBI single in the top of the seventh that plated sophomore first baseman
Tyler Hettich (Sarver, Pa./Freeport), who walked to open the frame.
Senior
Tommy Cannon (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) provided the lone additional hit for the Gators in the first game, a two-out single in the top of the fourth.
Senior
Joe Nagel (Sewickley, Pa./Sewickley Academy) suffered his first loss of the season to drop to 1-1 after starting and working the first 1.2 innings with six hits and five runs (all earned). Four relievers completed the final 4.1 innings:
Nolan Thompson (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township),
Wyatt Wright (Guys Mills, Pa./Maplewood),
Isaiah Lucas (Butler, Pa./Butler) and
Nick Tarasi (Gibsonia, Pa./Shady Side Academy).
The Gators will be back on the field at the Tucson Invitational Games on Sunday, March 17 when they take on Luther (Iowa) at Kino Sports Complex Field 5. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
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