Albany State baseball defeats Armstrong in extra innings

SAVANNAH — The Albany State baseball team fell behind after holding an early lead on Tuesday afternoon. However, ASU found its offensive firepower and managed to defeat Armstrong State 13-10 in 13 innings.

With the win, the Rams improved to 6-18 overall, while the Pirates dropped to 14-15.

Albany State took an early lead in the top of the first inning. Chasen Roulhac scored off Nic Griggs’ single, and Kelvin Wimbish scored to give ASU a 2-0 lead.

The Rams’ lead increased to 3-0 in the second inning when Jameson Eichelberger scored off a wild pitch. Armstrong scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.

In the third inning, Albany State recaptured the lead. Theo Smith hit a sacrifice fly to score Jonatan Galan, and Eichelberger’s double down the left field line scored Robbie Feagans for a 5-3 edge.

Over the next three innings, the Pirates scored six runs to take a 9-5 advantage and seemingly took complete control of the contest. However, ASU began its rally in the top of the seventh inning. Smith’s single to left field scored Feagan to cut the deficit to 9-6.

In the eighth, the Rams got closer with a pair of runs. Wimbish scored off a wild pitch, and Griggs scored on Ben Greenstein’s RBI single up the middle. ASU trailed 9-8.

Albany State was able to tie the game and send it into extra innings in the top of the ninth. Griggs smashed a single through the left side, and Eichelberger scurried home to tie the game at nine.

The two teams went scoreless for three of the extra innings before ASU finally scored in the top of the 13th. Consecutive singles by Lawrence Hyde, Smith and Quantico Dodson-Williams started a four-run inning that gave the visitors a 13-9 advantage. Armstrong State only managed one run in the bottom of the inning.

Feagans finished the game 3-for-4, while Griggs had three hits and two RBIs. Smith and Eichelberger each had two hits and two RBIs. Wimbish and Dodson-Williams also had two hits apiece. Gary Cannon (1-0) picked up the mound win, while Roulhac earned the save.

The Rams collected 16 hits.

Albany State will return to SIAC action March 31-April 1. The Rams will entertain the Clark Atlanta Panthers. Friday’s game will begin at 6 p.m. The doubleheader on Saturday will start at 1 p.m.