Union Baseball battles but falls at No. 18 Johnson

Knoxville, Tenn. – The Union Commonwealth University baseball team (3-4) dropped a 10-7 nonconference matchup at No. 18 Johnson (10-1) on Tuesday despite outhitting the Royals 11-7.

Union Commonwealth 7, Johnson 10

• The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Joaquin Gutierrez scored on a Johnson error to open the scoring. Brysen Vernon followed with an RBI single to plate Noah Young, and Young later crossed the plate on a passed ball to give Union a 3-0 advantage.

• Johnson responded quickly in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs to take a 5-3 lead.

• Union answered in the second. Aiden Wilson delivered an RBI double to score Gutierrez, then came home on an RBI single by Young. Sheppard Graf added an RBI double to score Young, and Max Charlton capped the inning with a sacrifice fly that brought home Isaiah Pintor, putting the Bulldogs back in front, 7-5.

• The Royals scored once in the fourth and once in the fifth to even the score at 7-7. Johnson then broke the tie with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 10-7 lead.

• Union was unable to mount a comeback in the ninth.

Pitchers of Record

Win: Logan Fiene (1-0)
Loss: Jayden Lochiatto (0-2)
Save: Andrew Uharriet (2)

Game Stats

• Joaquin Gutierrez: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB

• Noah Young: 3-for-5, RBI, 2 R

• Sheppard Graf: 2-for-4, RBI, R, 2B

• Gunner Bleha: 2.2 IP, 0 H, K

• Sean Shooltz: 2 IP, H, K

Up Next

The Bulldogs return to conference play Friday, Feb. 20, traveling to Pikeville, Kentucky, to face Pikeville at 3 p.m.