East Henderson had just scored four runs in the sixth inning Saturday to take a 9-8 lead, silencing The Bottoms and turning momentum in the Eagles’ favor.
Polk County’s answer came swiftly and decisively.
Nate Fagan singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, then Gavin Waldbillig hammered a line drive off the left-field fence for a game-tying triple. Two batters later, Aaron Jackson ripped a hot shot down the left-field line for another triple that scored the go-ahead run, lifting the Wolverines to a thrilling 10-9 victory in Saturday’s non-conference baseball game.
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Polk County (9-5) jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning. Gunnar Alm and Noah Harden drew walks before Alex Perry singled home Alm. Harden scored on a hit by pitch to Waldbillig, then Perry came home on Jackson’s sacrifice fly.
East Henderson cut the deficit to 3-1 in the third before scoring three runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. The Wolverines answered immediately in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases before Perry’s two-run single put Polk County back ahead 5-4. Fagan followed with an RBI single to make it 6-4.
Polk County added two more runs in the fifth. Matt Jarrett walked and Alm followed with a walk before Harden’s RBI single scored Jarrett. Alm scored on a double steal to push the lead to 8-5.
East Henderson rallied with one run in the fifth and four in the sixth to go ahead 9-8, setting the stage for the Wolverines’ dramatic response.
Perry led Polk County’s offensive attack, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Alm reached base in all four plate appearances, finishing 2-for-2 with three runs scored and three stolen bases.
Waldbillig contributed a hit, a run, two RBI and the game-tying triple while Jackson added a hit, two RBI and the game-winning triple. Harden went 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI and Fagan finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Waldbillig earned the win with two innings of relief, and Harden pitched a perfect seventh inning for the save.
Polk County opens a key Western Highlands Conference series with Madison on Tuesday at The Bottoms.
