Written by Erin Hughes

The D.C. Grays grabbed a 4-2 victory in comeback fashion over the Alexandria Aces on Saturday night in Alexandria. 

Neither side allowed a hit through the first three innings, but Noel Rivera (Marist) of the Grays and DJ Scheumann (Ball State) of the Aces each stole a base. 

In the top of the fourth, Jack McMullan (Liberty) reached on an error before a sacrifice bunt from TJ Addonizio (Richmond) moved him to third. The first hit of the game was a single from Luke Caucci (Lafayette) that advanced McMullan to third. Aces pitcher Noah Haught (Richmond) made the out at home to prevent McMullan from scoring and caught the last batter looking to end the frame.

Pitching continued to command the game as relievers Ayden Alexander (George Washington; Aces) and Casey Edwards (Washington College; Grays) held it down for their teams. 

Noel Rivera led off the seventh with a one-out single through the left side and quickly stole second. Tyler Wiltsey (Rutgers) drew a walk before Noel Rivera scored on an error and Wiltsey moved to third. The next batter fouled out and Wiltsey was picked off trying to score, but the Grays had the first lead of the game, 1-0.

Ernie Echevarria (Penn) drew a walk to start the home half of the seventh and swiped second soon after. EJ Hankerson (Maryland) took a second straight walk, but the next two batters were retired. A new pitcher entered in the middle of Brayden Huebner’s (Ball State) at-bat and he responded with an RBI double to score Echevarria for the Aces’ first run. The next two batters walked to plate Hankerson and give the Aces a 2-1 lead with nine outs to go. 

Moving to the top of the ninth, Noel Rivera walked to get on base for the Grays with one away. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second, before he advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on an error to tie the game. Joe Marini (Catholic) and Andy Rivera (Holy Family) both walked, and McMullan singled Marini home, giving the Grays back the lead. Andy Rivera scored on a wild pitch for the Grays’ final run, now leading 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Andrew Ruggeri (Penn) went three up, three down with two swinging strikeouts in the home half of the inning to hold on to the Grays win.