Racers Win First, Tie Second at Cumberland

LEBANON, TN - UNOH baseball opened their second series of the season with a 6-5 win at Cumberland. In game two, the Racers trailed the whole game until their final at bat where they stormed back to force extra innings. Daylight, however, became a factor as neither team could get an advantage in the first extra frame forcing a tie, 8-8, after eight innings.

UNOH put up two in their first at bat of the series with a RBI single from Joskar Feliciano and a RBI ground out from Drake Miller. Cumberland scored all five of their runs in the third as they strung together four singles and two doubles to go up 5-2, but the excitment was short-lived. A lead off walk and a single put two runners on board for Seth Freeman who ripped his first home run of the season to tie the game at five. A double and a single followed and were enough to added one more run in the frame to take the lead back 6-5. The Phoenix were held to just two hits over their next four chances to keep them off the scoreboard again.

Elida product Brayden Lybarger two two innings off the start giving up three runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Jeremy Yurcack threw two-thirds of an inning in relief with two runs off three hits and two strikeouts. Josh Mauney (1-0) earned the decision with three and a third innings of strong relief work giving up just two hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Eliott Traver earned his first save of the season finishing the final three outs with no hits and a strikeout.

Game two looked grim after four innings as Cumberlands built a 6-0 lead. Finally, UNOH found some offense thanks a walk followed by a double that set up Eliomar Otero for a three-run shot, his third of the season, that cut the lead in half. The Phoenix added an insurance run in the sixth and sent the game into the final inning with a 7-3 lead. Two singles and a double got the Racers scoring again bringing in three before Drake milled added one more with a two-out RBI single to level the game 7-7. Cumberland managed to work a runner to third with two outs but Eliott Traver finished off the final out to send the game into extras. Devon Tukes ripped a solo homer to lead off the inning but it was all the Racers could produce. The Phoenix answered with one of their own in the bottom of the eighth as the daylight fading forcing an end to the game at 8-8.

Eliomar Otero led the team over the two games going 4-9 with four RBI. Joskar Feliciano hit 4-8 with three RBI while Seth Freeman and Drake Miller added three and two RBI, respectively.

With the game ending in a tie, no pitching decision was given. Will Myklebust got the start and tossed two and two-thirds innings with five runs given up on five hits with three strikeouts. Nick Soller threw three and a third in relief allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Eliott Traver and Jordan Davis each worked one inning with the game tying run credited to Davis with one hit, two walks and a strikeout.

UNOH will play two more against Cumberland on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 PM.