MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – La Roche baseball began its week-long trip in Myrtle Beach on Sunday afternoon, facing Fredonia. In the end, it was the Blue Devils taking down the Redhawks by way of walk-off, for a final score of 9-5.
The first five innings of play belonged to the Redhawks who received strong pitching and timely offense.
It was the top of the fourth when La Roche scored the first run of the game, doing so behind a Dimitri Gary solo homer.
Later that half-inning, Christian Melendez came through with an RBI single to make it a 2-0 game.
After being held to just one hit over the first five innings, it was Fredonia cutting the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly, then in the bottom of the seventh, the Blue Devils tied the game on a sacrifice, fielder's choice RBI.
The Redhawks would respond, regaining the lead in the top of the eighth, when Larry Bielawski scored on a Fredonia error, and insurance came for La Roche in the top of the ninth, plating two runs, making it 5-2, behind Josh Dreyer scoring after another Blue Devil error and Gary's RBI single.
In the first five games of the year, the Redhawks were upended in walk-off fashion four of those games. However, in the bottom of the ninth, Fredonia made it a fifth time.
The Blue Devils opened the inning with a single and a pair of walks, followed by a pair of RBI singles and a bases loaded walk, tying the game 5-5.
Still with the bases loaded and no out, Fredonia pulled out the victory behind a walk-off grand slam, stealing the victory.
Casey Jones took the hill for La Roche and was phenomenal. Over six innings, Jones allowed just one run, two hits, walked two and struck out 12.
Cameron Mauk allowed one run, one hit, two walks and a strikeout in an inning of relief, while Izaak Ogrodowczyk in 1+ innings of relief allowed seven runs, four hits, three walks and one strikeout.
Offensively, the Redhawks strung together 11 hits, with Dreyer's 3-for-5 leading the way, with Gary, Bielawski and Melendez all having two hits as well.
La Roche is back on the field tomorrow with a new opponent and time. The Redhawks will now face Albertus Magnus on Monday, Mar. 11 and first pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.