Eagles sweep, go 4-0 in Rush

By Jeff Edwards/assistant sports editor

The Meridian Community College Eagles completed an undefeated run in the Rush Invitational Tournament, winning two games Sunday to finish the tourney with a 4-0 record.

The Eagles, now 7-1 on the season, beat Wabash Valley (Ill.) College 9-3 in the first game and defeated Southeastern Illinois Community College 7-2 in the nightcap.

“It was a good tournament,” MCC coach Chris Rose said. “We obviously want to win every game and we were able to do that. I’m pretty pleased but, make no mistake, we still have a long way to go if we want to make a run in the playoffs.”

In the opening game, the Eagles found themselves down 2-0 before the even got to bat. Wabash’s Josh Dutton had an RBI groundout off MCC starting pitcher Kedrick Martin and Axel Gonzalez then scored on a wild pitch to give Wabash the early lead.

“We’ve got to figure out how to get Kedrick out of the first inning,” Rose said. “He usually gives up some runs in the first inning and settles down after that. We’ve tried 45 different things and we’ll try 46. It’s something he understands and hopefully we’ll figure it out.”

Martin, the former Meridian High standout, did settle down nicely after the first inning, allowing only one more run in five innings of work.

MCC jumped out on top in the bottom of the third, scoring four times in the frame.

Shannon Steed led off the inning with a triple and was driven in by a Toddrick Stephenson sac fly. Another sacrifice fly, this one by Tyler Moore, scored Matt Holliman before Michael Guerrero scored on a passed ball. Drew Snider closed the scoring in the inning with a single that scored Jerrod Parks.

Parks came up big again for the Eagles in the fourth inning, slamming a two-out, bases-loaded double in the gap that cleared the sacks and put the game away.

MCC added one more run in the fifth when Moore singled in Steed.Parks, Guerrero and Snider led the way for the Eagles with two hits apiece while Jacob Willsey had three hits for Wabash.

Martin struck out five to pick up the win while Jonathan Wray pitched the final two innings in relief and fanned four.

In the second game of the day, the Eagles let Southeastern hang around for much of the game before finally blowing it open with a big fifth inning.

MCC was up 3-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but Southeastern pitcher Kenny Ford quickly found trouble, hitting leadoff batter Josh DeMoney, giving up a single to Justin Worby and walking Scott Mosely to load the bases with no outs.Stephenson made Ford pay for his mistakes with a two-run single just over the glove of the Southeastern second baseman.

After a double-steal, Holliman hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Mosely before Guerrero closed the scoring with a double down the line that scored Stephenson.

The runs were plenty for the Eagle pitching staff, which allowed two or fewer runs for the fifth time in eight games this season.

“No doubt the pitching and defense has been good,” Rose said. “I couldn’t be happier with our defense. It also helps when we score runs. When we get three or four runs, it takes away what the other team wants to do offensively and makes our defense and pitching stronger.”

Southeastern jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Luke Pahl scored on a fielding error. MCC quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the inning. Holliman walked and advanced to third on a Guerrero double before scoring on a passed ball. Guerrero then scored on a sacrifice fly by DeMoney.

Southeastern tied the game back up in the second when Eric Riley scored on a passed ball. However, that was the last time Southeastern cracked the scoreboard.

MCC took the lead for good in the fourth when Moore hit a chopper that found the hole between shortstop and third base for an RBI single that scored Holliman. The Eagles then put the game away with their big fifth inning.

Guerrero led the way for the Eagle offense with his two doubles while Parks had a triple. Justin Cruse had two hits for Southeastern Illinois. Chase Porch started and went three innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out five. Jason Coats pitched the next three innings, allowing only two hits while Ian Sharp pitched the final frame, striking out two to close the deal.

“We had some quality teams in this tournament,” Rose said. “I’m excited about the quality of the competition we were able to beat.”