The Oglethorpe baseball team used a three-run rally in the ninth inning to come out ahead over Bates in a back-and-forth affair Thursday evening, 10-9. The Petrels only tallied one hit in the inning, but it was the hit that won the game. Pinch hitter Joe Parillo delivered it in the form of a bases-loaded single up the middle.

The inning started with the Petrels down 9-7. Center fielder Jeff Pope and pitcher Matt Cornwell led off the inning with back-to-back walks. A Bates passed ball moved the runners to second and third. Left fielder Brendan Pilger was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases with nobody out. Catcher Jeff Brothers followed by drawing another walk, this one driving in a run, to make it 9-8. The bases were still loaded with nobody out.

Then, with right fielder Cory Leff at the plate, Bates pitcher Brad Reynolds uncorked a wild pitch that brought the tying run to the plate and put the potential winning run at third. Leff was then intentionally walked and Parillo came in to pinch hit. He delivered the game-winning single to give the Petrels the 10-9 win.

It was the second comeback of the game by Oglethorpe. They were down 3-1 in the fifth inning, but exploded for five runs to take a 6-3 lead. A three-run homer by Pilger and a monstrous two-run shot by Leff down the left-field line put a cap on the four-hit inning.

However, after getting two runs back in the sixth, the visiting Bobcats came back with a three-run inning of their own in the seventh, which was also capped by a three-run homer, and they took an 8-6 lead. The two teams traded runs leading up to the ninth inning.

To give an idea of how even the game was throughout, Bates outhit Oglethorpe 10-9 and each team had 17 baserunners.

Other than Parillo, who as mentioned was 1-for-1 with the game-winning RBI, Pilger had the best day at the plate for the Petrels. In fact, he arguably had his best day of the year. He went 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, four RBIs, two stolen bases and two runs scored.

Sam Briend got the start and pitched effectivley. He gave up four earned runs on four hits over five-plus innings, striking out eight. Cornwell got the win in relief. He got into a little bit of trouble in the eighth, but was his usual dominant self in the ninth. He allowed a run on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman over two innings. He struck out two.

With the win, the Petrels improve to 5-7 on the year. They will next be in action on Monday night, when Arcadia comes to Anderson Field for the Petrels' last home game before leaving on their spring break trip to Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.