HARTSVILLE, S.C. --- Matthew Lipcsey came through with a two-out, two-run walk-off single to lead Coker University to a 14-13 come-from-behind victory over Tusculum University Friday night in South Atlantic Conference baseball action.
The Cobras (13-32, 10-21 SAC) overcame an early 7-0 deficit to climb into a three-way tie for eighth place in the league standings with Tusculum (16-31, 10-21 SAC) and Anderson (23-24, 10-21). All three enter Saturday's final day of the conference season vying for the final spot for next week's SAC Tournament.
The two teams combined for 27 runs, 30 hits and eight errors while leaving 20 runners on base.
After Coker scored four times in the eighth inning to tie the game at 12-12, Tusculum retook the lead in the ninth when Caleb Mulcahy doubled and moved to third on an outfield fielding error. Shortstop Caden Rector brought up Mulcahy with the go-ahead run with his base hit to left.
In the bottom of the bottom of the ninth, Peter Adams and Dimitri Sabino hit back-to-back, one-out singles to put the tying and winning runs aboard. TU's Owen Canter took over for Scout Martin on the mound. Luke Alford battled Canter through an 11-pitch at-bat before flying out to left field, which was deep enough for Adams to tag up at second and move to third. With two outs and runners on the corners, Sabino stole second to move into scoring position. Lipcsey answered the call with a base hit up the middle to drive in Adams and Sabino to win the game.
Tusculum got the scoring started in the second frame, plating four runs on two hits and a pair of Coker errors to take a 4-0 advantage. TU made it 7-0 with three runs in the third including Jake Smith's two-run single and a Ryan Ortega sacrifice fly.
Coker cut into the TU lead scoring five times in the bottom of the third, utilizing six hits as the Cobras batted around.
The Pioneers added a run each in the fourth and fifth innings to extend the lead to 9-5.
TU starter Brice Anders took the mound in the seventh and recorded a strikeout to start the inning. But Lipscey would single on Anders' 97th pitch to end his night. Cooper Emery took over for Anderson as Lipcsey stole second and Luke Miller drew a walk. Luke Maicon came in for Emery and he would walk Gavin Johnson to load the bases.
Colton Penner singled to drive in a pair of runs and on the play, a TU outfield throwing error would allow the third run to score as the Cobras trailed 9-8. Maicon ended the inning with a fly out and a ground out to keep the lead.
In the eighth, Evan Goins hit a one-out double and moved to second on a ground out. After a two-out walk to Alejandro Ponte, pinch-hitter Steve Scarfone stepped up and belted a three-run homer as Tusculum led 12-8.
In the bottom of the eighth, Coker battled back as Adams got things started as he reached on a throwing error. Sabino would enter the game with his pinch-hit double to left to drive in Adams with the first run of the inning. Alford followed with two-run homer to right to trim the deficit to one run at 12-11.
After a walk to Lipcsey, TU southpaw Scout Martin took over for Maicon. Miller welcomed him into the game with a base hit and both runners would move up a base on Tusculum's second error of the inning. Johnson would tie the game at 12-12 with his sacrifice fly down the left field line and set the stage for the ninth inning drama.
Lipcsey finished the game going 2-for-5 with three RBI and scored three runs. Miller finished with three hits, while Alford, Penner, Adams, and Sabino all finished with multiple-hit outings.
Tusculum recorded 14 hits on the night as Kolby Watson led the way with his 3-for-6 performance. Smith, Goins and Mulcahy each had two hits. Mulcahy reached base four times including a pair of walks.
The two teams will wrap up the regular season Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
Here are the scenarios for Saturday: Tusculum can claim the final SAC postseason spot by sweeping Coker on Saturday AND Anderson loses one of its two games at Wingate. Coker can claim a spot in the SAC Tournament by winning one of its two games against Tusculum AND Anderson loses twice at Wingate OR Coker sweeps Tusculum AND Anderson drops one of its two games at Wingate. Anderson can punch its ticket for the SAC postseason if it ends the regular season in a tie with either Tusculum or Coker as they own the tiebreaker against both teams.
