Two walks and an error resulted in a seventh-inning run and allowed the Effingham Hearts to escape with an 8-7 win Tuesday afternoon at Highland.
Jackson Lee and Christian Raddatz led off the top of the seventh with a pair of walks. Lee moved up to third on a fielder’s choice and then scored when Gauge Massey’s ground ball was misplayed.
Matthew Loy, the third pitcher of the day for EHS, allowed a walk in the bottom of the seventh, but also recorded two strikeouts to secure the win and keep the Hearts undefeated so far this spring.
But they had to play from behind most of the game.
Highland led 5-1 and 7-4, but Effingham used a pair of three-run innings to come back and tie the game 7-7.
The comeback started in the fourth. Lee led off with a base hit and Raddatz was hit by a pitch. Joe Matteson then delivered an RBI single, Massey drove in a run with a ground out and Kalen Reardon had a sacrifice fly to get EHS within 5-4.
In the sixth, it was the same group that accounted for three more runs. Lee singled, Raddatz walked and Matteson singled to load the bases. Massey drove in the first run with a base hit and Reardon followed with a two-run double to tie the score.
Loy pitched the final two innings to get the win. He didn’t allow a hit, while walking one and striking out two. Jack Blickem started and went the first 2.2 innings, allowing eight hits and five runs. Brayden Pals pitched the next 2.1 innings and gave up three hits and two runs.
The Hearts, now 7-0, will play Friday at Flora and then return home to face Charleston Saturday morning in an Apollo Conference game at Paul Smith Field.