The SCAD Bees beat #1 seed Embry-Riddle to qualify for The Sun Conference Championship.  SCAD will play St. Thomas University for the Sun Conference title tomorrow at 11:00 am.  Since SCAD has one loss in the tournament playoffs they will have to beat undefeated St. Thomas twice to win the conference championship.

Game Results

The rematch with Embry-Riddle was not a place for cardiac patients.  The game was not settled until the bottom of the ninth inning.  Both teams had opportunities in the game, but it was SCAD who finally capitalized to win for the second time in three days over a team that had the best record coming into today's game at 40-15.   Underdog SCAD had a record of 29-29 and was a six seed in the tournament.

But the Bees did not act the part of the underdog.  In SCAD's home half of the first inning Hunter Pope singled, Jamison Sweat was hit by a pitch, and the Bees pushed the first run home on an error by the Eagles' pitcher.  The very next inning SCAD doubled its lead when Shane Yoder and Jonathan Andrews opened the inning with singles.  They were sacrificed to second and third by Carson Parker.  John Milian came through with an RBI single to make the score 2-0.

With Zakk White on the mound the lead of 2-0 lasted until the ERAU fourth.  Things started well for White, who retired the first two hitters.  But 3 consecutive hits plated two runs to even the score at two apiece.

Opportunities to score presented themselves to both teams over the next three innings.  Neither team could take advantage of runners in scoring position.  Both pitchers were able to work themselves out of jams.  It was not until SCAD's half of the eighth inning that the Bees were able to break the 2-2 tie.  Jonathan Andrews opened the inning with his third hit of the game.  Carson Parker sacrificed pinch runner Zack Callaway to second.  Hunter Pope then hit a ground ball to the Eagles' shortstop who threw wildly to first allowing SCAD to score a go-ahead run.

It looked good for the Bees even though Micah Thompson, who had come into the game to relieve White in the 7th, gave up a leadoff single to the ERAU batter.  Thompson struck out the next hitter.  But an errant pickoff throw to first allowed the Eagles' runner to move into scoring position.  Thompson struck out the next hitter.  SCAD was only one out from victory.  Two strikes later they were only one strike away from victory.  But then it happened.  A double to the gap was able to bring across the tying run.  Oh so close. 

SCAD was not about to fold.  They bounced right back in their half of the ninth.  Sweat started the good tidings with a double and advanced to third on a fielding error by the center fielder.  The Eagles made a strategic move to intentionally walk the next two hitters to set up a force play at home.  Coach Wollenburg chose to bat Eduardo Acosta who was hitting .367 in the pinch hitting role.  It was a brilliant move.  With the infield in, Acosta was able to hit one up the middle for the game winning hit. 

The Bees celebrated on the field and when the dust cleared it settled in...the Bees were in The Sun Conference Final  They will be facing St; Thomas, the team that put them in the loser's bracket yesterday.  The Bees will need to win two from St. Thomas in order to bring home the title, but the way they have hit in the tournament, it is not a stretch.   The Bees can do it.  Play begins at 11:00 am tomorrow.  Go Bees!!