Flyers welcome back Bryant with 22 unanswered runs to beat Titans
- Staff
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
IRONTON — There was enough hitting and scoring to make a comeback and a welcome back.
Trailing 13-1 in the third inning, the Saint Joseph Flyers hitters caught fire and scored 22 unanswered runs to beat the Notre Dame Titans 23-13 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Wednesday.
The comeback win also marked the return of Saint Joseph coach Greg Bryant, who had been sidelined from being in the Flyer dugout due to medical issues the past four months.
Even though it was Bryant's first game back this season, the comeback almost didn't phase him because he's seen the Flyers make furious comebacks many times over the years.
"What a night to make it back to the ballpark," said Bryant. "The past few years, we've seen a number of games like this. I'm so proud of the effort tonight and the fact they didn't give up."
The Flyers offense was paced by Evan Aldridge, who finished 4-for-5 and drove in four runs and doubled. Mason Weber returned from an injury and went 3-3. Carson Willis went 3-4 with an RBI and a double. Beckham Waginger went 2-3 with 3 RBI's and a double. Carson Lyons went 1-3 with 2 RBI's, Landon Rowe went 1-2 with 2 RBI's, Wes Neal went 1-2, and Blake Medinger went 1-3 with an RBI.
The Titans came out swinging and scored seven runs in the first inning to build up a 12-run lead.
Notre Dame took advantage of a couple hit batters and got base hits from Eugene Collins, Ethan Kingery, Connor Estep, and Carter Ingles.
Estep's hit highlighted the scoring, when he ripped a base hit that landed up against the right field fence and drove in two and made it 13-1.
But then came the bottom of the inning.
Saint Joseph sent 17 batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning and racked up eight hits in a 13-run scoring barrage that broke the backs of the Titans.
Aldridge recorded two of his four hits in the inning, first blasting a 1-2 pitch into left-center for an RBI double and later singled in another run to make it a one-run deficit.
Waginger also doubled in the inning, which allowed two runs to score.
The Flyers also got base hits from Weber, Willis, Rowe, Lyons, and Neal during the third.
The game-winning run came when Neal scored on a passed ball before the Titans finally got the final two outs and ended the scoring run.
But the Flyers continued to pour it on in the fourth with 6 more runs and stretch their lead to 20-13 after Waginger scored on a passed ball.
The 10-run rule clinching score came in the fifth, when Aldridge slapped a single into deep right center that scored Weber and Lyons to end the game.
Aldridge came on in relief in the third and shut down the Titans the rest of the way, giving up one hit and striking out a batter. Aldridge allowed just one base runner in the fifth, that runner was put out on a double play when Weber caught a liner at second and flipped the ball to Rowe at second to end the top half of the inning and set up the finish.
The Flyers will be back at home against Huntington Expression Prep, WV on Thursday.
Notre Dame 724 00 = 13 12 7
St. Joseph 10(13) 63 = 23 16 1
Carson Lyons, Evan Aldridge (3) and Beckham Waginger. Eugene Collins, Carter Ingles (3), Sawyer Rutman (3), Connor Estep (4) and Connor Estep, Carter Ingles (4). W-Aldridge (IP-2.1, H-1, R-0, ER-0, K-1, BB-0). Lyons (IP-2.2, H-11, R-13, ER-12, K-0, BB-2). L-Rutman (IP-0.2, H-3, R-5, ER-5, K-1, BB-3). Collins (IP-2.1, H-6, R-7, ER-6, K-3, BB-2). Ingles (IP-0.0, H-2, R-5, ER-5, K-0, BB-2, WP-1). Estep (IP-1.1, H-5, R-6, ER-5, K-0, BB-4). Hitting-Notre Dame: Eugene Collins 2-3 RBI, Sawyer Rutman 1-4 3B, Luke Cassidy 2-3 2-RBI, Ethan Kingery 2-2 RBI, Connor Estep 1-1 3-RBI, Brody Coleman 1-3 2-RBI, Michael Hiles 1-2 RBI 2B, Carter Ingles 2-3 RBI; St. Joseph: Landon Rowe 1-2 2-RBI, Mason Weber 3-3, Carson Lyons 1-3 2-RBI, Evan Aldridge 4-5 4-RBI 2B, Wes Neal 1-2, Carson Willis 3-4 RBI 2B, Beckham Waginger 2-3 3-RBI 2B, Blake Medinger 1-3 RBI.
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