Baseball: Gators Take Down TC Roberson 6-5 on Day 3 of Forest Acres Classic

River Bluff got its first win of the Forest Acres Classic on day three by handing TC Roberson of Asheville, NC, its first loss of the tourney 6-5. The Gators were able to turn the tables on its misfortunes of the first two days, coming out on the winning side of a one-run game after falling by a run on each of its games on Monday and Tuesday.

TC Roberson looked like it might win its third straight early in the game when it jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the fourth inning, however, the Gators closed the gap to one. With one out, Mac Raines reached first on an error, which opened the door for Ab Wilkerson, who hit his second homerun of the tournament, bringing the score to 3-2 in favor of the Rams.

River Bluff added on more runs in the fifth. Banks Alexander led off and was hit by a pitch, putting him on first. Two batters later, Sam Turner hit a hard ground ball that resulted in a single and scored Alexander. Walker Godwin then doubled to left, advancing Turner to third. A fly ball by the next batter, Mason Iser, moved Godwin to second. Up next, Raines was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Ashley Powell singled next, bringing Turner and Godwin home and giving the Gators a 5-3 lead. Then River Bluff safely executed a double steal putting Powell on second and scoring Raines.

The Rams were not done, though, adding two runs in the top of the sixth to get within one 6-5.

That would be all of the scoring, though, for the remainder of the game, giving the Gators the victory.

Ashley Powell started for River Bluff and pitched two innings, giving up three runs on three hits and striking out three. Brooks Peloso picked up the win in relief, pitching four and two-thirds innings, surrendering two runs on four hits and striking out five. Mason Iser got the save, grabbing the final out of the game

Gator hitting:

Mac Raines (#6) was named to the Forest Acres Classic All-Academic Team and Dominick Norton (#7) was named to the All-Tournament Team.