WESTFIELD, Ind. – In the bottom of the tenth, with the bases loaded,
Dakota Sill had his Greyhound moment when he crushed a ball down the third base line, not only clearing the bases, but propelling the UIndy baseball team to a three-run comeback versus the reigning GLVC baseball champions in the Quincy Hawks. On the play,
Zack Williams,
Cole Hampton and
Caleb Vaughn all scored, with Vaughn's headfirst slide home being the decider.
"The phrase I used in the meeting after the game was 'statement-program win.' Coming off a tough midweek game at Purdue Northwest… it would have been really easy for us to show up here feeling bad for ourselves… we just never quit today," Head Coach
Al Ready said after the win.
Outside of Sill's heroics, the day belonged to the excellence of
Diego Cardenas who provided eight innings of two-run baseball. Cardenas in 111 pitches gave up just four hits to the Hawks.
Cole Hampton was on fire from the dish as well, leading the Hounds with a 3 for 4 day which included a pair of RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a pitching showcase early between Cardenas and the Hawk's George Kirn as the game remained scoreless heading into the fifth frame. It was the Hawks to deliver the first blow, plating a pair, which the Hounds took until the eighth to respond to.
Respond in true they did with Hampton ripping a ball up the middle allowing both
Drew Donaldson and clutch pinch-runner
Zach Fell to score.
That 2-2 tied held into and out of the ninth as the Greyhounds faithful got a taste of free baseball at Grand Park. However, extras didn't begin kindly for the Hounds as the Hawks pushed three across the plate. That was when the Cardiac Hounds awoke, leading off with a Donaldson line-hugging double. Williams' up-the-middle shot brought Donaldson home.
Hampton mimicked Donaldson's double and then Vaughn would walk to set the scene for Sill to deliver the final blast.
UP NEXT
With all the momentum in the world, the Hounds will keep it rolling, hopefully, at Greyhound Park tomorrow. First pitch is currently scheduled for noon for the doubleheader. Stay tuned to @UIndyBaseball on X for updates.
