Kell’s walk-off single gives Knights win in 11th

COCHRAN, Georgia (MGSC ATHLETICS) – The Knights faced off against the Thomas University (GA) Night Hawks on Tuesday afternoon and the result was a little different from the opening series of the season for the two teams.

The Knights came out on top with Peyton Kell (SO/Lizella, GA)’s walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th that scored Tay Jerger (JR/Tallahassee, FL) from second for the 5-4 victory.

The Knights sent Jacob Wedincamp (FR/Twin City, GA) to the mound for his first start of the season and he went 4 innings allowing just 4 hits and 2 walks while giving up the first 2 runs, each of which was unearned.

The Night Hawks got the first run with a 2 out error by Sam Ayers (SO/White, GA) allowing a runner to score from 3rd while the second run came on Haydn Nechanicky (FR/Suwanee, GA)’s dropped fly ball allowing the runner to eventually scored on a bases loaded walk in the 4th.

The Night Hawks used 7 different pitchers in the game with starter Tate Lambert throwing the first 2 and the Knights finally got on the board in the bottom of the 4th off newly called up from the JV freshman, Tyler Krepps.

The 4th started off with Ayers getting hit by a pitch and was followed with an error by Kaleb Holbrook putting runners on 1st and 3rd. Jerger singled to center scoring Ayers and sending Tyler Eps to 3rd. Peyton Kell singled to score Epps and Haydn Nechanicky laid down a sacrifice butn allowing Jerger to score for the 3-2 lead.

Facing a new pitcher in the 5th, the Knights plated one more when Tyler Epps (FR/Statesboro, GA) singled with Ayers on second to make the lead 4-2.

The Night Hawks scored on a bases loaded sacrifice fly in the 8th to make it 4-3.

The Knights had 2 outs in the top of the 9th and Zach Massengale (JR/Williston, SC) in for the save with runners on 1st and 3rd. Massengale got the ground ball he wanted but it was misplayed by Jerger and he could not get the out allowing the run to score and tie the game at 4.

The Knights left 3 runners on over the next two innings while the Night Hawks went down 1-2-3 in the 10th and 11th. Jerger was looking for redemption when he stepped up in the 11th to lead off and walked then stole second. That brought up Peyton Kell who singled to center and Jerger came around with the winning run.

Massengale (3-2) ended up with the win in the game throwing 3 innings of 1 hit ball while striking out 1 and walking 1 and giving up just 1 unearned run.

The Knights have rescheduled their trip to Toccoa Falls College from March 25 to April 1 due to weather problems and will play their next game in McKenzie, Tennessee on Friday against Bethel University in a Southern States Athletic Conference matchup. The team is now 12-18 on the season.