Box Score STEVENSON, Md. -- Stevenson baseball battled back for an exciting 5-4 walk-off victory in the 10th inning against Ursinus on Friday afternoon at Sugar Field.
Stevenson (3-7-1) received a collective effort from the bullpen, while Jonathan Brandt came up in the clutch with his game-winning single in the top of the 10th. Patrick O'Farrell tossed three innings of relief as one of six Mustang pitchers to see the mound on Friday.
In what proved to be a back-and-forth type of matchup, both sides found the scoreboard in their first trips to the plate. Ursinus (0-2) pulled ahead at 4-1 before Stevenson responded back to level the score. Brandt, Kevin Carricato and Trent Smoot posted two hits each on the afternoon for Stevenson.
With two away in the first, Brandt ripped a single down the third base line, later coming around to score on a double from Tommy Holcomb. The Mustangs again strung quality at-bats together in the bottom of the third with two away, plating two runs and getting back into the game. Brandt was hit by a pitch, swiping second before moving to third base on a wild pitch. After a walk to Kevin Carricato, another wild pitch advanced the runners 90 feet. Carricato eventually came around to score on a throwing error as the Mustangs took advantage of a sloppy third inning from Ursinus.
Jason Labrador entered the game on the mound in the fourth inning and whirled a pair of scoreless innings. Matt Hinderliter, O'Farrell and Jackson Mayo picked up where Labrador left off, keeping Ursinus off the board for the remainder of the afternoon.
The resilient Mustangs knotted the score in the bottom of the sixth after Eric Mondragon smacked a double down the third-base line, allowing Smoot to score. O'Farrell cruised through the Ursinus lineup in the eighth and took the ball into the ninth on the mound. After a walk, Ursinus pushed a baserunner to second base following a sacrifice hit. O'Farrell countered back with a strikeout for the second out of the frame before Carricato made a splendid defensive play by tossing out the runner at home, neutralizing the Urinus threat.
In the bottom of the ninth, Holcomb ripped a one-out single that prompted an Ursinus pitching change. Carricato added a single to left, moving Holcomb to scoring position with one out. The Bears almost had an inning-ending double play as Jake Cunkle legged out a fielder's choice, with the Bears later closing the frame on a groundout.
Jackson Mayo entered the game on the mound for Stevenson in the top half of the 10th inning, sending down Ursinus in order with a pair of strikeouts to cap the frame. In the home half, Smoot opened up the inning with a single through the left side before Mondragon was intentionally walked. Both runners advanced on a balk as Ursinus elected to intentionally walk Amani Jones with one out.
Brandt delivered the walk-off single on the first pitch of the ensuing at-bat, scoring Smoot and handing the Mustangs a hard-fought 5-4 victory.
News and Notes
- O'Farrell rolled through three innings of scoreless relief, surrendering one hit and adding four punchouts in a strong pitching performance. It was all part of a strong outing for the Mustang bullpen as Labrador, Hinderliter and O'Farrell combined for six innings of scoreless relief.
- O'Farrell made his team-leading sixth relief appearance of the season on Friday.
- Brandt figured into the first and last run for Stevenson, scoring the initial run of the contest for the Mustangs and later adding the game-winning RBI in the 10th.
- Stevenson was playing in its first extra-inning game since February 29, 2020 in the nightcap against City College of New York.
- The Mustangs were just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position through nine innings.
- Stevenson posted double figure strikeouts as a pitching staff for the second time this season, with the last time coming on February 23 at Catholic.
- Carricato has registered five hits over his past two games for the Mustangs.
Up Next
- Stevenson and Ursinus conclude a three-game series with a doubleheader at Sugar Field on Saturday, March 5. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.
