By Magdalena Bresson
SCAD Bees baseball had a strong start Feb. 22 against St. Augustine’s Flagler College, but a cozy 4-1 lead in the 5th inning would later dissolve into a disappointing 6-4 loss.
Fresh off their 8-1 win against Massachusetts’ Fisher College on Monday, the Bees seemed poised and ready to defeat a strong Sun Conference team, leading off with two strike-outs by Dylan Weber Callahan in his first inning. A slow start from the Flagler Saints and a strong double to left field by Tyler Wells in the third inning scored the Bees their first point.
When Flagler hits in the fifth inning tied the score at 1-1, SCAD was quick to respond. Two singles and a walk placed SCAD players on all three bases with Mark Malec (#27) up to bat. As calm and collected as ever, Malec drove home all three players with another single and firmly secured the lead at 4-1.
The sixth inning, however, would tell a very different story. The weak-batting Flagler Saints stepped up their game, pressuring starting pitcher Callahan for better pitches. Three hits in one inning trumped the four strikes that Callahan had spread out over five innings.
Head Coach Doug Wollenberg made the crucial decision to substitute #1 Micah Thompson with Flagler players on first and third. But the Saints performed under pressure, bringing in yet another run to close the gap at 4-3.
The seventh inning marked an unraveling of the SCAD’s previously clean play. A few fly balls and careless pitching tied the score at 4-4 in the ninth.
Wollenberg again substituted #18 Reid Warner, who stalled the loss of momentum, but was unable to prevent Flagler hitters Devon Hellet and Kyle Foti from securing a 6-4 lead. Foti’s impressive homer in the ninth inning appeared to be the quintessential death knell for the Bees as they failed to recover at bat.
A sad day for the Bees earns them a 12-7 record on the season, but reason to hope for better results against St. Thomas on Friday and Saturday.
