Eagle baseball team closes opening weekend with another split

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Though it was the same outcome as Friday's openers, day two was an all-around more positive experience for the Midway baseball team.

The Eagles were once again able to handle Rust (Miss.), this time by the final of 15-3 before going toe-to-toe with the No. 2 team in the country, eventually losing a 5-3 final to Georgia Gwinnett on Saturday.

MIDWAY 15, RUST 3

For the second-straight day, the Eagles jumped on the Bearcats early en route to putting up double-digit runs. This time, the fast start was kick-started by DJ Morain.

Morain, a junior college transfer, started the scoring with a first-inning sacrafice fly, before extending the lead to 3-0 with a two-run home run in the third. He added a fourth RBI on a single in the sixth inning, finishing the game 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a 1.000 on-base percentage.

After Rust cut the deficit to 3-1, Midway exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning, the rally starting via a Grant Hotchkiss two-run double. Hotchkiss' RBIs were the only runs to come off a hit in the inning, the others via an error, two walks and two sacrifice flys.

Hotchkiss had two hits, while he, Yadiel Ortiz and Josh Halterman all drove in two runs.

The Eagles got good work on the mound from Blake Kincaid and Jackson Lee, who in seven innings combined for 11 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one earned run. 

GEORGIA GWINNETT 5, MIDWAY 3

As was the case when the teams met Friday, where the Grizzlies scored seven two-out runs en route to a 12-0 win, the second inning was a rough one for the Eagles.

This time Gwinnett struck early, scoring four of the five runs they platted in the frame before the Eagles recorded an out.

That would be the only inning the Grizzlies would score though, as relievers Noe Novella and Grant Stone allowed just two hits and three base runners over four innings of work.

The Eagle offense immediately answered Gwinnett's five-run second with three runs in the top of third. Halterman and Morain both had RBIs before Eli Glasscock came around on an error.

That would be all Midway could muster for a comeback, unfortunately, as Gwinnett relivers Ben Weber and Tommy Ross combined to retire all 12 batters they faced in the final four innings.

Now 2-2, the Eagles will be back on the road next Saturday and Sunday, where they will play four neutral-site games against (Iowa) in Millington, Tenn.

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