Baseball rattles off huge late-game rally to pull away from Westminster

The Muskingum baseball team rattled off a four-run inning late to pull away from Westminster in extra innings by a final score of 5-1. The Muskies are off to the best start to a season since the 2005 campaign.

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (4-0 overall), Westminster (0-1 overall)
• Location: New Wilmington, Pa.
• Attendance: 127

Notables 

The Muskies are off to their best start to a season since the 2005 campaign.

How It Happened

• The Muskies got on the board early with a single to left field by junior Sam Palmieri that brought home sophomore Grant Mellerson.
• The Muskies held the 1-0 lead until Westminster tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. 
• As the score stayed knotted at 1-1 into the tenth inning the Muskies finally broke through in the top of the eleventh.
• To start the rally, freshman Jasper Owens logged a walk.
• Senior Tobie Teke laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Owens to second base.
• Palmieri and sophomore Aiden Reis proceeded to walk the bases loaded.
• With the bases loaded, junior Jackson Duchesne checked in as a pinch hitter and brought home the first run of the inning after earning a walk.
• In the next at bat, Palmieri dashed home on a wild pitch to bring the score to 3-1 with runners left still threatining on second and third base.
• To help seal the deal and push the Muskie offense over the top, senior Weston Melick knocked a single out to right field that brought home both runners that were on base.
• A four-run inning that helped propel the Muskies to a 5-1 lead.
• In the bottom of the eleventh inning, sophomore Gavin Schultz gave up a double to the first batter he faced but never faltered.
• Schultz proceeded to strikeout the next three Westminster batters that stepped into the box and helped secure the Muskingum win. 

Inside The Numbers

• The Muskies scored five runs on five hits with zero errors.
• The Muskingum offense was fueled by Palmieri and Melick who both had solid performnaces at the plate. 
• Palmieri logged two hits, one RBI, one walk, and one run scored. He knocked in the first run of the game and was part of the rally to pull the Muskies away in the end.
• Melick fired off one hit, two RBI's, and drew two walks. He cleaned things up in the eleventh inning with a single to right field that helped seal the deal for the Muskie offense.
• Teke and sophomore Conner Thamann each added one hit.
• Mellerson, Owens, Palmieri, Reis, and Duchesne each scored one run in the contest.
• Mellerson was also credited with the lone stolen base for the Muskies.
• On the mound to start, freshman Jake Valentine dealt an efficent six innings of work while striking out seven batters and only giving up one run.
• Freshman Coleman Harvey came in for relief and pitched two innings. He struck out two batters in his time.
• Sophomore Gavin Schultz finished the contest and secured the win with three innings of scoreless work. He finished solid by only giving up one hit while striking out eight batters.

Up Next

• The Muskies will be back in action when they travel to William Peace on Saturday, March 1 for a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.