Enterprise takes opener as Nunez squanders late comeback

WESTWEGO, La. – Blayne McDaniel’s 2-out, 2-run double in the top of the ninth drove in the deciding runs as Enterprise (AL) Community College slipped past Nunez Community College 11-9 in the opener of a 3-game weekend series on a muggy Friday evening at Segnette Field.

The Pelicans had just tied the game in dramatic fashion the inning before on Alex Crews’ clutch 2-out grand slam homer that capped off a late-inning rally from six runs down.

Nunez got on the board first in the bottom of the first as Kyle Landry led off the inning with a line drive double into the left-centerfield gap, stole third and scored on Landon Manson’s deep sacrifice fly to center.

The Boll Weevils then took a 3-1 lead the next inning on a walk, bunt single, and 2 singles around another walk. But the Pels tied it in the bottom half as Caleb Webb lead off with an infield flare that dropped in for a single. Landry then moved Webb to third with carbon-copy of his line-drive double the inning before, after which Collin Zeringue lined a frozen rope down into the right field corner for a double to score both runners and tie the game at 3-3.

The visitors then took the lead again with a single run in the fourth as Kelvin Griffin reached with one out on catcher’s interference, moved to third on Ryals Burch’s double to center, and scored on an infield groundout.

In the seventh inning, Enterprise took advantage of a Pelican mound meltdown after McDaniel had led off the inning with a single, stole second, moved to third on an outfield error on a pickoff attempt that sailed into centerfield, and scored on Michael Conder’s sacrifice line drive to right to make it 5-3.

Then, after Caden Slappey slapped a double to center, what followed were five consecutive walks to force in three runs and give the Weevils a seemingly comfortable 8-3 lead, with the final run of the frame next scoring on an infield groundout.

Now down 9-3, the Pelicans got one back in the bottom of the 7th as Manson walked, moved to second on a wild pick-off attempt from the plate, and scored on Payton Cooper’s line single to left.

Then in the eighth, the Pels tied it with a 5-run rally that started with Ashtyn Ellis’ infield single to short and a walk to Caleb Duhon. Ellis then came around to score on a wild pitch followed by a passed ball, with Duhon making it to third on those same pitches. After a pair of strikeouts, Manson walked and Cooper was hit-by-pitch to load the sacks with two outs. Crews then stepped in and on a 2-1 pitch launched his shot over the scoreboard in left field to suddenly tie the game at 9-9 after eight innings.

The winning rally for Enterprise in the ninth started with a 2-out walk followed by an infield single between 3rd and short. The Pelican infield then could not make the play on a foul pop-up near third base which would have ended the inning and set up a walk-off situation in the bottom half for the Pels. Instead, given a second life, McDaniel then drove his game-winner into the left-centerfield gap to plate both runners.

Closer Drew Cashin then retired the Pels in the bottom of the ninth on a walk, pop-out, and line drive double play.
Each team’s pitching staff recorded 8 strikeouts, with Nunez starter Levi Brewster getting 7 of those over his 6 innings of work in the no-decision effort.

On offense, Landry with those 2 doubles, Aidan Lambert, and Webb each had 2 hits for the Pels. Burch led the Weevils at the plate, going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI’s. Also, in a rare situation, Manson did not register an official at-bat in 5 plate appearances, with 2 walks, 2 hit-by-pitches, and that sacrifice fly.

NEXT UP:
The teams will conclude the series at Segnette Field with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1PM. Nunez students, faculty, and staff will be admitted free with Nunez ID.

Score By innings – Fri 2/24
Enterprise – 030 100 502 – 11 9 2
Nunez – 120 000 150 – 9 10 3
W – Harvin L- Flynn S – Cashin
Clark, Bennett (6), Harvin (8), Cashin (9)
and Griffin. Brewster, B Smith (7),
Austin (7), Flynn (7), Howard (9) and Manson.
2B – Slappey, Burch, McDaniel, Landry 2,
Zeringue, Lambert. HR – Crews.
SF – Conder, Manson.