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Walking to a win

Sullivan West breaks Liberty's win streak with a walk-off walk

Richard A. Ross
Posted 5/9/23

JEFFERSONVILLE – It is often said that a walk is as good as a hit. You bet it is, especially in a tied game with bases loaded in the bottom of the last inning. That is exactly what sent the …

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Walking to a win

Sullivan West breaks Liberty's win streak with a walk-off walk

Posted

JEFFERSONVILLE – It is often said that a walk is as good as a hit. You bet it is, especially in a tied game with bases loaded in the bottom of the last inning. That is exactly what sent the Sullivan West Bulldogs gallivanting into the outfield for a postgame confab with coach Ty Ebert after the drama in the bottom of the seventh. 

Prior to the game, Liberty coach Joe Franke noted that Sullivan West is always a challenge. True enough. Going back years, a number of the games between the two schools have been epic. 

This one seemed much more low key as the teams stayed close right up until the end. Liberty got on the board in the top of the first via an RBI single from David Philips. They increased that lead to 3-0 with two runs in the top of the third, an RBI triple by Tanner Bury and a single by Philips to bring him home. 

Sullivan West got those two runs back in the bottom of the frame as Evan Ebert bunted his way on and stole second. His brother Max brought him home courtesy of an E7. Jaymes Buddenhagen hit a sac fly to plate the second run. 

Evan Ebert started on the mound for the Bulldogs but was relieved by Adam Ernst and then by winning pitcher Haden Nicosia. The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the fourth behind a single from Austin Nystrom and an RBI from Evan Ebert. 

Liberty briefly took the lead in the fifth but a nifty throw out at the plate after a fly out to center resulted in an inning-ending double play. Liberty now led 4-3 but Sullivan West answered right back with two runs to take a 5-4 lead. Neither team scored in the sixth, but Liberty made it interesting getting a run across in the top of the seventh as Philips recorded his third RBI. That tied the game. 

Then came the cascade of bases on balls off Liberty reliever Cody Ricco who walked Evan Ebert, Adam Ernst, Max Ebert and delivered the bases loaded walk to Brandon Haass to afford the Westies the 6-5 non-league win which put an end to Liberty’s six game winning streak. Liberty fell to 7-4, while Sullivan West improved to 5-6. 

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