The Bruins picked up their second win in dramatic fashion as Isaiah Brandt had a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the team a 2-1 win in game two of the Saturday doubleheader over Toccoa Falls College. The Bruins fell in game one 8-2 at Conestee Park in Greenville, South Carolina.
"I'm very proud of the guys and the way they continued to push to the end," Bruins Head Coach Brent Casteel said. "We have some talent on this team and our guys are continuing to learn that they have to go out there and make it happen and not just hope it does. We had several guys step up for us today and we thank the Lord for the win."
The Bruins came into the doubleheader on Saturday after a tough 13-3 loss to Toccoa Falls on Friday night. Ethan Rogers would get the start for the Bruins in the first game of the doubleheader as the two teams took the field under a cloudless Greenville sky.
In the first inning, the Bruins took the lead as Daniel Barcena singled home a run to give the team a 1-0 lead. The Screaming Eagles came right back as they evened the score in the 2nd inning to make it 1-1.
Toccoa would then take their first lead of the game in the 4th inning as an error allowed Cole Snyder to score to make it 2-1. The Bruins battled back as David Gonzalez launched a line drive double off the outfield wall to drive in Cheo Arias as the score was tied 2-2.
The Bruins had grabbed momentum, but it was short lived as the Screaming Eagles took a 3-2 lead off a single from Clifton Dempsey and then used a five-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach and win 8-2.
After a short break, the two teams were back on the field as the Bruins looked to bounce back from the loss. Josh Crane would be on the mound for the Bruins in game two of the doubleheader and the senior turned in a dominant performance pitching seven complete innings while not walking a single batter and striking out three on the day.
It was a hard-fought game throughout, but the Screaming Eagles took an early lead after an error allowed Clifton Dempsey to score to make it 1-0. Both teams went back and forth with several key defensive plays by each side. The Bruins got a boost off the bench as senior Andrew Vandenberghe made two highlight plays, including a diving put out to keep the score close with runners on second and third.
The Bruins were able to draw even in the 6th as Riley Ramsey scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-1. In the seventh, the Bruins held Toccoa scoreless sending the game to the bottom of the seventh.
Andrew Vandenberghe hit a single for the Bruins to begin the inning before David Gonzalez drew a walk to put runners on second and third. Isaiah Brandt then gave the Bruins the victory as the freshman hit a single up the middle to score Vandenberghe and give the Bruins the 2-1 walk-off win.
"We needed to just get the bat on the ball," Coach Casteel said as the team celebrated their second win of the season. "We needed our guys to be aggressive and our baserunners to be aggressive and Isaiah came up with a big play for us. We've got to continue to come out and be prepared mentally and then back it up physically."
Next up, the Bruins will play a home game on Tuesday night as the team welcomes Brevard College. The two teams will play in a college showcase at Fluor Field in downtown Greenville, South Carolina with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
