HAGAN’S EXTRA INNING HIT PUSHES MUSTANGS PAST FALCONS
Photo Credit: Jocyln Nicholas
Orwell, OH- Friday’s showdown between the Grand Valley Mustangs and the Jefferson Falcons proved to be a heart-stopping affair, with the Mustangs claiming a dramatic 6-5 victory after a late-game surge. The Falcons, despite a valiant effort, saw their lead slip away in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Grand Valley seized an early advantage in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on an error to put themselves on the scoreboard. The Mustangs extended their lead with two more runs in the third inning, courtesy of RBI singles by Kamden Cottrell and Justin Hagan.
However, the Falcons fought back fiercely, reclaiming the lead in the top of the sixth inning. DJ Partridge and Braden Dietrich came up clutch with back-to-back doubles, each driving in two runs to swing the momentum in favor of the Jefferson Mustangs.
Not to be outdone, Grand Valley rallied once more, with Cottrell’s crucial double in the bottom of the seventh knotting the score at five apiece, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion.
The game-deciding moment came in the bottom of the ninth when Justin Hagan delivered a walk-off single, securing the victory for the Grand Valley Mustangs and leaving the Falcons with a bitter taste of defeat.
Eric Ellsworth emerged as the winning pitcher for Grand Valley, delivering a stellar relief performance by shutting down the Falcons in the crucial final inning. On the opposite side, Braden Dietrich suffered the loss for the Jefferson Mustangs, despite a solid effort on the mound.
Contributions were spread across both teams, with hitters from both sides making notable impacts. For the Jefferson Mustangs, players like Michael Riffle, Luke Lambert, Giovanni Matticola, Partridge, Logan Saksa, and Dietrich each recorded hits, while Partridge and Dietrich stood out with two RBIs apiece.
Meanwhile, Cottrell led the offensive charge for Grand Valley, driving in three runs and contributing to the Mustangs’ hard-fought victory. Payton Plizga and Justin Hagan also made significant offensive contributions, with Plizga leading the team in hits and Hagan delivering the game-winning hit.
With this thrilling win under their belts, the Grand Valley Mustangs look ahead to their next challenge, while the Jefferson Mustangs regroup in preparation for their upcoming matchup against Madison on Monday.
