ATLANTA – The Oglethorpe University baseball team opened its weekend series in dramatic fashion Friday evening, outlasting Sewanee in an 11-inning battle, 7–6, at Hermance Stadium. In a game defined by resilience, timely hitting, and lockdown relief pitching, the Stormy Petrels delivered when it mattered most, capping the night with a walk-off RBI single from Nick Morgan in the bottom of the 11th.
Oglethorpe wasted no time applying pressure, striking first in the opening inning. Cade Eidam set the tone by reaching base and eventually coming around to score on an RBI single from Evan Smallwood, giving the Petrels an early 1–0 advantage.
Sewanee responded with steady offense over the middle innings, building a 6–2 lead heading into the late frames. Despite the deficit, Oglethorpe continued to generate traffic on the bases, compiling 16 hits and drawing eight walks over the course of the contest.
The turning point came in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two out and the bases loaded, Eidam delivered the biggest swing of the night, ripping a double down the left-field line to clear the bases and tie the game at 6–6. The clutch hit highlighted a standout performance for Eidam, who finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three walks, reaching base five times.
Jace Armstrong and Morgan played key roles in the rally as well. Armstrong recorded two hits, including an RBI single earlier in the inning that helped spark the comeback, while Morgan reached base multiple times and later delivered the game-winning hit.
With momentum shifting, Oglethorpe's pitching staff took control. After a challenging start, senior left-hander Parker Spring was dominant out of the bullpen, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out six. Spring kept Sewanee off the board in extras, giving the Petrels the opportunity to complete the comeback.
Both teams traded scoreless innings in the ninth and 10th before Oglethorpe broke through in the 11th. Armstrong led off the inning with a single, and Ben Chatham followed with a base hit to put runners in motion. After Aiden Hosford was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Morgan stepped to the plate with two out and delivered the decisive blow, lining a single up the middle to bring home Armstrong and secure the 7–6 victory.
Trey Kinnan led the team with three hits, continuing his consistent presence at the top of the lineup, while Brick Conway added three hits of his own. Evan Smallwood chipped in two hits and an RBI, and the Petrels showcased depth throughout the order with contributions up and down the lineup.
Oglethorpe's combination of patience at the plate, timely extra-base hitting, and clutch pitching proved to be the difference in a tightly contested opener, setting the tone for the rest of the weekend series.
Game Notes
- Oglethorpe improved to 10-9 in the SAA after the 7–6 extra-inning victory to open the series.
- The Petrels recorded 16 hits and eight walks, showcasing a balanced offensive attack.
- Eidam led the team with three RBIs, including a game-tying bases-clearing double in the eighth inning.
- Kinnan and Conway each finished with three hits.
- Spring earned the win with 3.0 scoreless innings, striking out six.
- Morgan delivered the walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning.
- Oglethorpe scored four runs in the eighth inning to erase a four-run deficit.
Up Next
The Petrels finish up regular season Southern Athletic Association play and the series against Sewanee with a doubleheader at home on Saturday, May 2, at 1 p.m. The team will honor its 13 seniors in a ceremony beginning at 12:30 p.m.
