Flyers storm back with 8-run rally in 7th to upset Titans

PORTSMOUTH — After a tough pair of disappointing losses, the Saint Joseph Flyers needed to regroup and get their season on track.

Well, the Flyers not only got back on track, but they also shook up the Southern Ohio Conference race with 8-run seventh inning to upend the Notre Dame Titans 13-11 on Wednesday night.

"After last week, we needed to regroup and make a few changes in the lineup," said Flyers coach Nick Medinger. "But the difference today was that our kids showed fight and that was something we were missing the past couple games."

Everything appeared to be going the Titans (8-5) way when they put four runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead.

During the inning, Ingles drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Jaxon Stombock collected an RBI on a single into right. Luke Hamilton scored on a double steal and Warren Kelly's RBI single gave the Titans a commanding lead.

Saint Joseph (4-3) would get a run back in the fifth, but Notre Dame added three more runs to hold a 10-5 lead after six innings.

"Our pitching did well at times. Carson (Willis) got himself out of some jams early on. Then Beckham came in and threw hard and got guys out. But we kept giving them chances and they took advantage in that fourth and fifth inning," said Medinger.

Down to their final three outs, the Flyers knew this was a pivotal moment to their season.

The Flyers were able to get a pair of runners on via walks with one out. Then a base hit from Carson Lyons loaded the bases up.

Saint Joseph would cut the deficit down when Blake Medinger drew a walk and Braden Neal was hit by a pitch to make it 10-7.

The Titans would get the second out of the inning when Sawyer Rutman struck out Eli Whaley. But Lyons would score from third on an errant throw down to third and make it a two-score game.

Barrett Waginger would draw a walk to load the bases back up, forcing the Titans to make another pitching change in the inning and bring in Luke Cassidy.

Needing a clutch at bat, the Flyers got it when Beckham Waginger stepped in next and delivered a screaming liner down the left field line on a 1-1 pitch, bringing home Medinger and Neal to tie the game up at 10-all.

Despite being the first out of the inning, Mason Weber made sure he wouldn't be the last as he hit a hard ground ball in the hole at second and beat the throw to first for an infield single and drove home two runners on the play to make it 12-10.

Evan Aldridge drove in another insurance run with a base hit into left to score Weber from second and give the Flyers a 13-10 lead going into the final 3 outs of the game.

Medinger was impressed with how his players' were able to handle the situation and finally get the top of the order to come through with big at bats.

"The kids showed some great patience at the plate in that last inning," said Medinger. "Then the three hits in a row from Beckham, Mason (Weber) and Evan (Aldridge) was tremendous because we did it against a phenomenal pitcher to get the lead."

The Titans came to bat with the heart of their lineup in the bottom of the inning, But Barrett Waginger was able to punch out the lead off batter with a strikeout.

Notre Dame would get a run back when Cassidy lined a first pitch shot over the right field wall to make it a two run game.

The homer would be the final threat of the evening, as Waginger got the next batters to ground out and strikeout looking to end the game and secure the win for Saint Joseph.

"Barrett came on strong there at the end. Take away the home run pitch and you couldn't have asked for a better performance to finish out a game," said Medinger.

Saint Joseph is no stranger to wild rallies when it comes to playing Notre Dame. It was just 364 days ago when the Flyers trailed 13-1 going into the bottom of third against the Titans and proceeded to score 13 runs in the frame. The Flyers went on to win 23-13 in 5 innings.

Saint Joseph 021  110  8  =  13  10  1

Notre Dame 210  430  1  =  11    8  3

Carson Willis, Beckham Waginger (3), Barrett Waginger (6) and Beckham Waginger, Evan Aldridge (3). Brycen McGraw, Jaxon Stombock (6), Saywer Rutman (7), Luke Cassidy (7) and Connor Estep. W-Ba. Waginger (IP-2.0, H-1, R-1, ER-1, K-3, BB-0). Willis (IP-2.0, H-2, R-3, ER-3, K-2, BB-6, HBP-1), Be. Waginger (IP-3.0, H-5, R-7, ER-6, K-3, BB-4, HBP-1). L-Rutman (IP-0.1, H-0, R-2, ER-2, K-1, BB-1, HBP-1). McGraw (IP-5.2, H-6, R-5, ER-4, K-5, BB-0, HBP-1). Stombock (IP-0.2, H-1, R-4, ER-4, K-0, BB-3, HBP-0). Cassidy (IP-0.1, H-3, R-2, ER-2, K-0. BB-0, HBP-0). Hitting–Saint Joseph: Barrett Waginger 1-2, Beckham Waginger 3-5 2B 2-RBI, Mason Weber 2-5 3-RBI, Evan Aldridge 1-3 2-RBI, Blake Medinger 2-3 2-RBI, Braden Neal 1-1 2B 3-RBI; Notre Dame: Sawyer Rutman 1-4, Brycen McGrew 1-3, Luke Cassidy 2-3 HR 2-RBI, Ethan Kingery 1-3 RBI, Luke Hamilton 2-RBI, Carter Ingles RBI, Jaxon Stombock 2-2 2B 2-RBI, Warren Kelly 1-3 RBI.