Jacksonville Clinches Top Seed at A-Sun Championship Presented by Progress Energy with 4-3 Rally Past Mercer
Date Posted: 5/12/2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Senior Gordie Gronkowski scored the game-winning run off a double to right center by junior Mike McCallister in the bottom of the 10th to give the JU baseball team a 4-3 win over Mercer, Friday evening in game two of a doubleheader at Alexander Brest Field.
The win gives JU (38-14, 20-6) its seventh consecutive conference series win, its fifth consecutive victory and clinches the No. 1 seed in the A-Sun Championship presented by Progress Energy.
"Special things happen to this team when we get runners on base and we proved it again tonight," said JU head coach Terry Alexander. "Andrew Urena is one of the top closers in the country and we gave them a second life when they scored in the ninth to tie it."
With the score tied, 3-3, Gronkowski hit a single up the middle with one out to become the first runner allowed by Urena after hurling a perfect ninth inning. McCallister followed with a drive to the right center gap which was overrun by Eric Renfroe in center field. Due to the misplay in center, Gronkowski made a break for the plate and slid under the tag by Josh Thompson at the plate to end the game.
