Steamers Walk Off Knights To Keep Season Alive, Split First Two Games With Greenbrier
Edenton, NC – The Clams were six outs away from the season ending tonight but a big homerun provided just the right spark. The Edenton Steamers and the Greenbrier Knights split the first two games of the three-game playoff series, Tuesday, at Historic Hicks Field. The Knights won the first game (a continuation of Monday night’s suspended game) 7-6 and the Steamers won the second game in walk-off fashion 3-2.
The Clams’ offense scored three in the final two innings of game two to steal a win from the Knights.
In the eighth inning, Steamers’ first baseman Gabe Kirck tied the game up at 2-2 with a big swing. Kirck hit a game-tying two-run home run off of Knights reliever Bryce Burchette.
After the game, Kirck said he received two similar pitches from Burchette during the at-bat and took advantage on the second pitch.
“I saw the ball up in the air and hunted fastball,” Kirck said. “That first one I just missed it, saw that second one on the inner half and turned on it and the rest speaks for itself.”
Kirck has now recorded a hit in five straight games and six RBIs in his last three games. The home run was Kirck’s first home run since the Steamers’ 23-14 loss against Tarboro on June 11th.
John Horton shut down the Knights in the top of the ninth to provide the Teal and Black a chance to win it in the bottom half.
The Clams loaded the bases against reliever Scott McDonough on a single by Ty Garza, a fielding error by Knights shortstop Jordan Hill, and a hit-by-pitch to Jackson Ellyson.
With two outs and the bases full, Davis Halstead came to the plate. Halstead worked a five-pitch walk to bring in the winning run and send the series to game 3.
After the game, Halstead said he was just trying to slow the game down.
“I knew that guy (McDonough) had nothing left to come at me other than a firm fastball,” Halstead said. “I was just going to sit back and I wasn’t going to miss it and fortunately I never got one cause he threw four balls.”
On the pitching side, the Clams turned to Hank Downum with the season on the line. He tossed five shutout innings, allowed just one hit, and five walks, and finished with a season-high eight Knights.
In the sixth inning, Steamers head coach Justin Hill elected to go to John Horton in a 0-0 tie.
Horton allowed some early trouble in the sixth. The right-handed arm allowed three hits including an 2-RBI single from Knights catcher Jake Tone to put Greenbrier from 2-0.
Horton got out of the jam and responded by dodging Greenbrier threats in the next three frames to hold the Knights to just two runs.
Game One
Prior to game two, the Knights and the Clams finished up game one which was suspended Monday night. The game picked up with the Steamers (the designated road team) in front 1-0 in the top of the fourth.
Greenbrier and Edenton traded runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and the top of the fifth. Steamers reliever Tyrus Baumgardner was the first out of the pen in relief of game one starter Ben Bausas and allowed two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
In the top half of the fifth, the teal and black responded with five runs on three hits. Ellyson got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Kirck plated three on a bases-clearing double, and Morris knocked in Kirck with a double to left to put the Steamers up 6-2.
The Steamers did not score the rest of the way and held a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Knights jumped in front with four runs on three hits against relievers Reuben Costin and Alex Gianascoli.
Costin allowed all four runs and did not record an out while Gianascoli allowed the 2 RBI go-ahead single by Knights designated hitter Luke Ough.
It was the first time since the Steamers’ 10-9 loss against the Clayton Clovers on June 29th that the Clams blew a lead of at least four games.
The Steamers and the Knights will return to Historic Hicks Field for the third and final game of the series, Wednesday. First pitch is at 7:00 pm. The winner will advance to the Premier Collegiate League Finals to take on the Tarboro River Bandits. The loser’s season will come to an end.
If you cannot make it to the game you can tune into the Steamers YouTube page, your home for every Steamers 2023 playoff game.