BASEBALL

Late-game fireworks by Deklan Thompson and a clutch defensive play from senior Bryce Deckman propelled 6th-seeded Huntington University to a thrilling 4-3 win over 5th-seeded Marian in a Crossroads League Tournament elimination game Friday afternoon at Indiana Wesleyan’s Crandall Family Field.

With the score locked at 3-3 heading into the top of the ninth, Thompson led off the inning by blasting a solo shot over the left-field fence to put the Foresters on top. Deckman then sealed the win in dramatic fashion by throwing out the potential tying run at home on a sacrifice fly attempt for the game’s final out, sending the HU bench into a frenzy.

The back-and-forth battle featured three homers with Marian the first to send one deep in the second for a 1-0 advantage. After Braden Kauffman evened things up in the third with an RBI-ground out, Beldon Glasgow cranked one out of the park in the fourth for Huntington’s first lead at 2-1.

The game saw another tie and lead swap before Dylan Rost‘s sacrifice fly in the sixth knotted things up once more at 3-3, setting the stage for Thompson’s late-game heroics.

RJ Anglin earned the win out of the bullpen with a stellar relief performance. The sophomore right-hander pitched the final 5.1 innings, giving up just one run on six hits while striking out three and walking two.

Both teams finished with ten hits. Thompson led the way offensively for HU with a home run, triple, and one run scored. Kauffman and Mason Meyer each added two hits with Kauffman also logging an RBI.

The Foresters (26-25) continue their tournament run Saturday at 11:00 a.m., where they will face either Indiana Wesleyan or Saint Francis in another elimination game.