TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Gators scored 11 runs over the final four innings to break open what was a close game as the Allegheny baseball team downed Luther (Iowa), 14-4, at Kino Sports Complex Field 5.
Leading 3-2 in the top of the sixth, sophomore
Luke Chutko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) delivered a one-out single and junior
Keegan Phillips (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) reached on an error. The next hitter, junior
Bret Kelly (Tonawanda, N.Y./Tonawanda), broke open the game with a two-run double to left center, 5-2. With two outs, Kelly moved to third after a failed pick-off attempt and scored on an RBI pinch-hit single by senior
Ethan Pawlak (Chardon, Ohio/Gilmour Academy), 6-2.
In the seventh, senior
Austin Bristol (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) led off with a single and classmates
Brandon Pouch (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) and
Tommy Cannon (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) were intentionally walked and walked, respectively, to load the bases. Four runs were scored over the next three hitters as Chutko plated a run when he reached on an error and Phillips also brought in a run on a fielder's choice that saw the first baseman try to come home for the force out and throw the ball away. Kelly then had his second two-run hit when his single went through the left side, 10-2. The eighth inning's run came on a lead-off homer to right center by Pawlak, his second of the season.
The ninth inning featured junior
Shane Fiorentini (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) walk and later come in to score, along with freshman
Jacob Budnar (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights), on a two-run single by freshman
Brett Heckert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), 13-4. Heckert scored when the next batter, freshman
Isaiah Lucas (Butler, Pa./Butler), doubled to center, 14-4.
Trailing, 1-0, after an inning, the Gators got on the board initially when senior
Max Sessions (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) demolished a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run shot after Phillips and Kelly both reached to open the frame.
Senior
Dalton Donachie (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield Local) earned the win in relief of junior
Sean Kealey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin). Donachie entered the game with two runners on in a 3-2 game in the bottom of the fifth inning and got two strike outs to end the threat. Donachie picked up his first victory of the season and second win as a Gator after tossing 3.2 innings and allowing four hits and two runs (both earned) with five strike outs and no walks. Kealey worked the first 4.1 innings and scattered five hits and two earned runs while striking out five and walking six. Senior
Joe Nagel (Sewickley, Pa./Sewickley Academy) pitched the final inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Allegheny now sits at 4-6 at the quarter-mark of the 40-game 2019 schedule. The Gators will be off on Monday, March 18 before returning to action at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 12 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, on Tuesday, March 19 against Hamline (Minn.).
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