GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Ryan Ortega went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and made a lead-saving catch late in the game as Tusculum upset 19th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne 12-10 Friday night at Eastman Credit Union Field.
The Pioneers (16-27, 10-18 SAC) got some gutsy pitching and took advantage to five LR errors, which resulted in 10 of its dozen runs being unearned.
The Bears (30-10-1, 19-8-1 SAC) pounded out 15 hits on the evening but left 14 runners on base including the tying runs at second and third in the ninth inning.
Tusculum scratch a run in the bottom of the first when Ortega led off with a double, moved second on a wild pitch and later scored on a double play ball as the Pioneers led 1-0.
LR responded with four runs in the top of third inning highlighted by a RBI single from Drew Beard and a two-run hit by Nathan Kidder as the Bears led 4-1.
But in the bottom of the fourth frame, 15 Pioneers went to the plate as TU plated nine unearned runs on five hits and three errors by the defense as Tusculum went up 10-4. A pair of fielding errors led to Tusculum's first two runs of the inning while a passed ball resulted in the third score to tie the game at 4-4. With two outs, Ortega clubbed his second double of the contest, a two-run drive to the gap if left as the Pioneers went up 6-4. Alejandro Ponte followed with a RBI single to drive in Ortega and Landon Dockery belted a two-run blast to left field for his fourth homer of the season to go up 10-4.
Lenoir-Rhyne would chip away at the deficit scoring a run in fifth and plated three more in the sixth to make it a 10-8 contest. It would have been more, but with the bases loaded and two outs, Trent Murchison lifted an opposite field flare down the left field line. Ortega got a late start by made an acrobatic diving catch to end the inning and preserve the two-run lead.
In the top of the seventh, Mackenzie Wainwright was hit by a pitch and moved to second when Lleyton Lackey walked. After a fly out, Andrew Muraco grounded into a fielder's choice with Lackey being called out a second base for the second out. But on the play, Wainwright scored all the way from second as he never broke stride round third to cut the once six-run deficit down to one (10-9).
In the bottom of the eighth, the Pioneers scored two big insurance runs as the Bears committed two more errors resulting in two more unearned scores. Rector led off with a walk and later moved all the way to third base on a failed pickoff attempt at first. Rector scored on Jake Smith's sacrifice fly to make it an 11-9 contest. Ortega would got aboard on a throwing error, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on another wild pitch when Ponte walked. Pinch runner Connor Jurek pinch ran for Ponte. With runners on the corners, and Dockery at the plate, Jurek took off for second to purposely get in a run down. But the alert Ortega broke for home and scored, while Jurek was able to retreat back to first for a 12-9 lead.
Like he did for most of the night, Wainwright led off and was able to get on base for a sixth straight time with his flare single to right. Lackey ground into a fielder's choice as Wainwright was called out at second for the first out of the inning. Seth Christmas would reach on an error which caromed into left field foul territory, which allowed the runners to move to second and third with one out.
Luke Maicon took over for Owen Canter on the mound as Muraco flied out to left field, deep enough to score Lackey from third as TU led 12-10. Beard legged out an infield single and later stole second to put runners and second and third. But Maicon would bounce back and got the final out of the game on a strikeout to secure his first save of the year.
Tusculum pitcher Scout Martin picked up the victory for the Pioneers as he went 2.1 innings, allowed three runs on seven hits with a strikeout. TU's Owen Canter tossed 3.1 strong innings of relief as he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
LR starter Paul Toovalian (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he went 3.2 innings, allowed six hits and 10 runs with only two of those being earned. He also walked two and struck out five.
Preston Drebes held the Pioneers at bay as he went 4.0 innings, allowed two unearned runs on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Wainwright went 4-for-4 with two doubles, his 12th and 13th of the season. He also scored three times and recorded his team-leading 14th stolen base of the year. Kidder went 3-for-3 with three RBI for the Bears, while Beard also had three hits to go along with his two stolen bases.
Tusculum finished with eight hits including multiple-hit games by Pointe and Dockery.
The two teams will wrap up the series with Saturday's 1 p.m. doubleheader.
