NASHVILLE – The Trevecca baseball team (33-20) defeated Union University (12-33) 14-12 in an instant classic in the second round of the 2013 NCCAA Mid-East Regional. The win moves the Trojans to the winners bracket championship game on Friday at 7 p.m.

Trevecca will face top seeded Campbellsville University (33-19) with the right for berth into the Championship game on Saturday.

The Trojans are now winners in 12 of their last 15 games, including five in a row.

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The game was full of ebbs and flows as each team made dramatic moves with big innings countering the others. The visiting Bulldogs started the roller coaster ride by scoring five runs in the top of the second.

Union's Hunter Smith singled up the middle before Kody Pinson doubled to left center. Catcher Zach Wylie singled to center field, driving in Smith. An out later Colton Speed singled to right field, scoring Pinson. The big blow came off the bat of Wacey Russell when he tripled to right field scoring Speed and Wylie. John Reed followed with a single, scoring Russell.

The Trojans cracked back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning and tied the game with three in the third.

Trevecca's Hunter Newman, named the region player of the year before the game, led off the inning with a single to right field. Blake Rogers singled and advanced to second on an error. Corey Crunk singled to right field scoring Newman and moving Rogers to third. An out later Cameron Boyett singled to right field scoring Rogers.

In the Trevecca third, Mark Rayburn singled to left field with an out. Jordan Foreman singled, moving Rayburn to third. Newman hit a sac fly, scoring Rayburn. Rogers singled up the middle and Crunk walked to load the bases. Tyler Tichenor delivered a two-run single, scoring Rogers and Foreman.

The game remained tied until the fifth inning when the Bulldogs plated six runs for an 11-5 advantage.

Union's Reed singled to right center to open the six-run fifth inning. Jim Martin doubled before McAdams singled driving in Martin and Reed. Smith reached on a walk. Connor Haddock relieved Kuhn on the mound for Treveca. Pinson reached on an error. An out later Pierson Waring hit a grand slam home run. For a moment, it seemed the air had left the Trojan sails. 

In the Trevecca half of the fifth, the Trojans answered the call with six runs of their own, tying the game at 11-11 through five innings.

Newman walked and Rogers reached on a fielding before Crunk singled to load the bases with no one out. Tichenor hit an infield single driving in Newman. Boyett drove in another run with a sac fly. Cade Seeley followed with a two-out single that scored Tichenor and Crunk. Trae Bain relieved Bryan on the mound for UU and promptly walked Rayburn. Foreman doubled to right center, scoring Rayburn and Seeley.  

In the top of the sixth UU swayed the momentum back in their favor with a single runs and a 12-11 advantage.

After two were retired in the Union sixth, Smith singled down the left field line. Pinson doubled to left center driving in the go-ahead run.

It was Trevecca's turn again in the bottom of the sixth as the Trojans took the lead for the first time with three runs and a 14-12 lead.

Tichenor hit his second infield single to lead off the Trevecca sixth. Tichenor advanced to second on a balk. Boyett was next with a single and Cade Seeley reached on an RBI-bunt, which scored Tichenor. With the game tied at 11, Howell followed with another bunt single to load the bases. After Union turned a double play, Howell moved to second and Seeley advanced to third. It looked like the Bulldogs were going to get out of trouble as they brought in Benjie Fesmire in relief of Bain. But Foreman greeted Fesmire with two-run single that scored Howell and Seeley, giving the Trojans their first lead of the game.

Ryne Rayburn came on for a perfect top of the seventh and earned his fourth save of the year. The senior capped it off with a pair of strikeouts, including strike out for the final out of the game.

Trevecca scored 14 runs on 17 hits and had one error. Union scored 12 runs on 14 hits and had three errors.

Foreman was 3-for-4 with a run scored, a double, and four RBI. Tichenor was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Seeley was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and three RBI.  

Connor Haddock picked up the win and is now 6-0 on the year.

Trevecca will now host Campbellsville for the winner's bracket championship game at 7 p.m. on Friday. All are welcome to attend, but those out of town can watch or listen online Live Media/Stats