- Newberry Panthers rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Columbia Tigers 12-11.
- Desmond Taylor hit a two-RBI double and Aiden Michaux singled in the game-winning run for Newberry.
- Tavis Honeycutt hit his 14th home run, tying the game at 8-8 and boosting his batting average above .600.
- Columbia's Tison McCray hit two homers and had four RBIs despite allowing eight runs as a pitcher.
The Newberry Panthers were down to their last out and in danger of being swept this season by the Columbia Tigers.
But the top of the Panthers’ order got to the plate and found the big hits when they needed them.
Senior Desmond Taylor blooped a two-RBI double down the right field line and junior Aiden Michaux singled in the game-winning run for the Panthers as they scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past Columbia, 12-11.
This game was back-and-forth all night, as the lead changed hands five times. Newberry (16-5) outhit Columbia 12-8, but nine walks and four hit batters by four Newberry pitchers gave the Tigers plenty of opportunities.
Junior Tavis Honeycutt, a University of Florida commit, blasted his 14th home run in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at 8-8. Honeycutt also has 44 RBIs and is hitting over .600 after a two-for-three night with two walks.
“They challenged him (Honeycutt) again and he made them pay for it,” Newberry coach Mike Spina said. “He’s having a great year, he’s a special kid who has big things ahead and I’m proud of him.”
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Tison McCray was having a huge game himself for Columbia (12-8), but at the plate instead of the mound. McCray allowed eight hits and eight runs in 3 1/3 innings, but as the leadoff hitter, he hit two homers in back-to-back innings, drove in four runs with three hits and scored three times.
Newberry led 3-1 after two innings, and then things really got crazy.
Columbia tied the game with two runs in the top of the third, including the first homer by McCray. Newberry took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the third, but the Tigers went up 8-5 with a five-run fourth, including a three-run homer by McCray.
Honeycutt tied the game with his three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Nolan Slaymaker put Columbia back on top 10-9 in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer, and the Tigers added a run in the top of the seventh for a two-run lead. McCray and Slaymaker both had four RBIs in the game.
Columbia reliever Colton Mote retired two batters after allowing a leadoff hit in the seventh. Mote then walked leadoff hitter Brycen Ochs, and Taylor then blooped his double down the right field line, with Ochs scoring from first after a bad throw got away on the infield to tie the game 11-11.
Honeycutt was walked intentionally and Michaux followed with his game-winner to center field.
“I’m proud of the guys for not quitting, and it feels good to be on the winning side,” said Spina, whose team lost 8-1 at Columbia on March 3. “This late in the year, you’ve got to win games like that, and a win against them (Columbia) with their power ranking will help.”
