In a span of eight days, Allen Community College has gone from a scuffling team in search of its first conference win to a squad on the verge of qualifying for the Region VI playoffs. BOTH WERE IN doubt to the final pitch. THE DRAMA continued in the second game.
The Red Devils picked up a doubleheader sweep on Saturday with some gutsy pitching, nearly air-tight defense and timely hitting.
Trey Francis got things started with a walk-off double to give the Red Devils a 3-2 win over visiting Highland in Saturday’s opener. Derek Pike then finished things off with a clutch save in the ninth to preserve a 4-2 in the nightcap.
The victories, Allen’s sixth in eight games, puts the Red Devils at 6-18 in Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division play and 11-23 overall.
Four teams, Fort Scott, Highland, Labette and Allen, are within one game of each other for the final two playoff spots. In Allen’s favor, the Red Devils are 3-1 against both Highland and Labette with a four-game series still to play against Fort Scott.
Head-to-head competition is the first tie-breaker in the standings.
“These were huge, huge games for us,” Allen head coach Val McLean said.
The Red Devils rallied to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the opener with two in the bottom of the sixth to set up Francis’ late-game heroics.
Sean Maruo opened the seventh by getting hit by a pitch. Levi Ashmore sacrificed him to second, bringing Francis to the plate.
“I was just looking for something to take the other way,” Francis said.
He punched the 3-2 pitch from Highland’s Brett Norris down just inside the line past the lunging Scotties first baseman for a double.
Maruo scored easily, as the Red Devils mobbed Francis at second base.
Highland scored in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead on ACC starter Trever Kreifel, but could do no more against the Allen righty. Kreifel pitched out of a fifth-inning jam, aided by Drew Walden’s throw from left field to gun down a Scotties base runner trying to turn a single into a double to open the frame. The play took on added significance as another single, walk and wild pitch put runners on second and third with two outs. Kreifel escaped the jam by retiring Highland’s Brandon Beavers on an infield pop-up.
Kyle Foster gave the Red Devil offense its first jolt, a leadoff home run over the center field wall in the bottom of the sixth. Chase Egelston followed with a double. He scored one out later on a double by Austin Griffin to tie the score.
Zach Maskill picked up the win in relief after tossing two scoreless innings. He struck out five of the six Scotties batters he faced. Kreifel allowed five hits and five walks in five innings. He struck out two.
Ashmore and Cole Slusser added singles to the Red Devil attack.
Ashmore got things off on the right foot with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first, then he doubled and scored on Francis’ single to give ACC a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Highland evened the score in the top of the sixth before Egelston singled to lead off the bottom half. Griffin bunted him to second, where he scored on Camdon Myers’ RBI double.
Walden walked to lead off the eighth, moved to second on Egelston’s single and scored on Myers’ RBI grounder.
Chase Cunningham picked up the win with six strong innings. He allowed two hits and walked two with seven strikeouts.
Maskill came on in relief once again, allowing just one hit in 2 1/3 innings with two walks.
Pike who threw 128 pitches in a complete game victory on Thursday, was summoned after the Scotties put two on in the top of the ninth. He picked up the save with a strikeout and routine fly to center to end the game.
“It wasn’t just our pitching that picked us up,” McLean said. “It was everything. Our hitters did a great job today, and our fielding was solid. These were two, solid, all-around games.”
Ashmore had a double and home run, Myers had a single and double, and Kreifel and Egelston each had two singles. Walden doubled. Francis chipped in with a single.
Allen goes out of conference for a doubleheader Tuesday at Sterling College before beginning another crucial four-game series against Neosho. Allen hosts two Thursday against Neosho before traveling to Chanute for the final two Saturday.
Red Devils ride late drama to Highland sweep
