Pirates Edge Screaming Eagles, 2-1, In 10 Innings

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Senior Juan Dorado drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning with an RBI single, giving the Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Southern Indiana on Saturday afternoon at Pirate Field.

A magnificent pitcher's duel between Southern Indiana starter Matt Nichols and AASU starter Thomas Gray kept both teams in check, putting up zeroes until the top of the sixth inning, when the Screaming Eagles (0-2) broke through thanks to a pair of errors.

Southern Indiana loaded the bases with two outs against Gray. Ryan Smith was brought in to face pinch hitter Kyle Rowley, and Smith induced a foul popup, but first baseman Kenny Cail could not secure the ball, keeping the at-bat alive. Rowley then worked a walk, driving in the first run of the game.

Nichols threw seven innings of two-hit ball, striking out three, but gave way to Screaming Eagle closer Shaun Larsen in the bottom of the eighth inning. Larsen, an ABCA All-American and DII's leader in saves last season with 17, got in trouble when Dorado singled up the middle and stole second, then Alex Wyche lined a double to the right field wall. Dorado scored the tying run, but Southern Indiana cut down Wyche trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

Neither team could push across the run in the ninth, then in the bottom of the 10th, a throwing error by USI shorstop Wes Fink allowed Josh Heath to reach second to lead off the inning. A bunt single to third by Josh Wilson put runners at first and third with nobody out. After Wilson took second on catcher's indifference, Dorado lined a single through the drawn-in left side of the infield, bringing home the winning run.

Smith (1-0) picked up the victory in relief for the Pirates (3-2), working 4 1/3 innings of no-hit relief, walking two and striking out four. Larsen (0-1) took the loss for Southern Indiana, giving up two runs - one earned - and five hits in 2-plus innings of work.

Dorado was the only player on either team to collect multiple hits on the day. Tyler Choate, Wes Fink and Chad Werry each collected doubles for Southern Indiana.

The two teams wrap up their three-game series on Sunday with a single game at 11:00 a.m. at Pirate Field.