FERRUM, Virginia -- In a thrilling finish, Ferrum College's baseball team edged out Bates College 6-5 in the second game of their non-conference three-game series. The game, originally scheduled for seven innings, extended into the eighth, where a dropped fly ball by the Bates right fielder allowed Kyle Markowitz to score the game-winning run. The Bobcats then eked out a 4-3 win in the nightcap.

RECORDS
Ferrum (2-4)
Bates (1-2)

GAME ONE
The Panthers struck early, with Carlos Castillo hitting a double to right-center in the first inning. Kyle Markowitz quickly brought him in with an RBI single, giving Ferrum the early 1-0 lead. Bates responded in the third inning with three runs to take the lead, but Ferrum quickly answered. Tyler Mason led off the bottom of the third with a single, and Castillo blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence to tie the game at 3-3.

The teams traded runs in the fourth inning, keeping the score tied. In the seventh, a Panther throwing error allowed Bates to take a 5-4 lead, but Ferrum responded in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, JJ Tyree singled down the left-field line to score JJ Mulhern and even the score at 5-5. The game remained deadlocked until the eighth when Seth Shannon sent a ball to right field, which was dropped, and Markowitz crossed the plate for the 6-5 victory. Jorge Garcia earned the win after pitching 1.2 innings of relief. Garcia allowed just one hit and struck out two of the seven batters he faced.

GAME TWO
In the first inning of the nightcap, Seth Shannon walked with the bases loaded, then Tyree did the same to spot Ferrum a 2-0 lead. Brandon Biggane had a two-run homer  in the third inning to tie the game. In the fifth inning, Gregory Melo's single up the middle allowed Tyler Mason to score the go-ahead run and the Panthers led 3-2 after five complete innings.

Bibby Sullivan's two-run homer to left field in the seventh inning pushed Bates back out in a front and the Bobcats played just enough defense to hold off a Ferrum bases-loaded scoring threat in the bottom of the seventh. 

UP NEXT
Coach Eric Owens' team will play a three-game series Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, against Ohio Wesleyan University at TVA Credit Union Ballpark in Johnson City, Tennessee. Saturday's doubleheader is set to start at noon, then the two teams will wrap up the series with a single game Sunday at noon.