CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Junior
Brady Thomas racked up five RBIs in a 7-6 victory over Lee University Tuesday afternoon, helping the Greyhounds snap a five-game losing skid.
Thomas' big at-bat came in the top of the seventh inning with the Hounds (2-5) trailing 5-3. Facing the Flames' Grayson Bailey (0-1) with the bases loaded, Thomas smacked a homer over the right field fence – good for his first career grand slam – giving UIndy a 7-5 lead it would not relinquish.
Lee (12-7-1) took an early lead by scoring a run on three hits in the first inning, and UIndy drew even on a RBI double to left center from Thomas in the top of the third.
Greyhound starter
Adam Cornwell tossed three scoreless frames following the first inning, but was tagged for four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth. Reliever
Jake Sprinkle (1-0) was brought in from the pen, and got out of a bases-loaded situation to keep the Flames' lead at 5-1.
UIndy was behind by the same score entering the seventh until
Dylan Whetstone hit a RBI double to right center, scoring
Blake Richardson and
Storm Joop. After
Colin Hawk drew a walk, Thomas delivered his game-winning dinger.
Thomas set a career high with five RBIs, going 3-for-5 with a run scored, and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Whetstone, who entered behind the plate for
Alex Ritchie, finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run.
Zach Jacobs was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk; and Ritchie was 1-for-3 hitting a double and scoring a run.
In his second appearance of the season, Sprinkle went 3.1 innings on the mound, finishing with three strikeouts to no walks in earning the win.
Brett Collins picked up his first save of the season, closing out the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Tomorrow's game against Lee has been canceled due to inclement weather, meaning the Greyhounds will be back on the diamond this weekend in the first Great Lakes Valley Conference series of the season. UIndy hosts Rockhurst Saturday and Sunday, with both doubleheaders slated to start at 12 p.m. ET.
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