UNOH Falls to Talladega in First Game of Opening Round

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - The NAIA Opening Round got underway early Monday with UNOH and Talladega squaring off in Georgia in their first meeting since 2011. After three scoreless innings, the Tornadoes began to take control holding UNOH to just two runs while pulling away for a 12-2 win in seven.

Through the first three frames, the two teams produced just four total base runners with two reaching on errors. The break through finally came in the fourth as Talladega used three singles and a walk to plate three runs taking a lead they would never relinquish. They added a single run in the fifth followed by the biggest inning of the day with five in the sixth going up 9-0 before UNOH could get their first across the plate.

Back-to-back singles opened the home half of six setting up what would become a record setting plate appearance for Cesar Grau. The WHAC Newcomer of the Year ripped a double down the left field line bringing in the Racers' only two runs of the game and setting a new single season mark for Runs Batted In giving Grau 72 in his first year with the program. The Tornadoes finished the day with three more runs in the seventh putting them up ten and ended the game early in seven innings.

Daniel Healy (10-2) took the loss after five innings of work allowing four runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Five other Racers took the mound in relief combining for eight runs on just three hits with seven walks and two strikeouts.

With the loss UNOH drops into the bottom half of the bracket and will face elimination their next time out. The Racers take the field again Tuesday morning, May 12, with an 11:00 AM EST first pitch against the Marian Knights. The two programs meet for the first time since the 2018 NAIA Opening Round tournament.

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