WILDCATS RIDE SULLIVAN'S ARM TO WIN OVER NEB

By: Tim Birney  /  April 28, 2021

ROME — Athens overcame an early deficit, thanks in large part to a strong pitching performance by sophomore Cameron Sullivan, in a 10-4 win over Northeast Bradford here Wednesday afternoon in NTL baseball action.

Junior Karter Rude walked to lead off the game, stole second and third base, then scored on an error to give the Wildcats a quick 1-0 lead.

NEB answered quickly with first-inning doubles by Lucas Crown and Clay Wiggins to tie the game at 1-1. Wiggins would later score on an error to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the second inning, senior Kyler Setzer singled, stole second, and later scored to tie the game at 2-2, but the Panthers answered with two runs to take a 4-2 lead.

A one-out single by Cayden McPherson was the only hit in the rally. Four consecutive walks forced home two runs to give the Panthers a 4-2 lead.

Sullivan entered the game after the fourth walked, and escaped the jam without further damage.

Sullivan finished off the game to earn the win. He tossed 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits, while striking out six and walking none.

The Wildcats tied the game in the top of the third inning on a two-out, two-RBI triple by senior Kaden Setzer.

In the top of the fourth, Rude ignited a rally with a one-out double, and scored on back-to-back singles by sophomore Caleb Nichols and Sullivan that left runners on first and third. Moments later, Nichols scampered home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore Mason Lister to make it 6-4.

Sophomore Jaren Glisson’s lead-off home run in the top of the fifth extended Athens’ lead to 7-4.

The Wildcats added three runs in the sixth inning in a rally capped by Glisson’s two-RBI double.

Glisson homered and doubled, scored two runs, and collected three RBI to pace the Wildcats at the plate, while Rude tripled and doubled, stole two bases, and scored two runs, and Nichols singled twice, stole two bases, and scored two runs.

Kaden Setzer tripled and drove in two runs in the win, while Lister singled, scored two runs, and knocked in one run, Sullivan singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, sophomore Lucas Kraft singled and knocked in a run, Kyler Setzer singled and scored one run, and senior Ben Vough added a single.

Crown doubled and singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, and Wiggins doubled, scored one run, and knocked in one run to pace NEB’s five-hit attack.

Athens, now 6-6, returns to action Friday at Towanda.