Vols Split Day 2 of Region XXIV Tournament

Carterville, IL - The Logan Volunteers advanced to the championship day of the Region XXIV, albeit the long way, after falling to Rend Lake 8-7 in the winners bracket game, but bouncing back and eliminating Lincoln Trail 12-8 in the night cap on Sunday. Logan has pushed its record to 43-12 on the year. The Vols will now have to beat Rend Lake twice in a row on Monday to be Region XXIV champions. First pitch will be at noon, with the if necessary game starting roughly 30 minutes after the completion of game one.

Against Rend Lake the Volunteers would become their own worst enemy, walking seven total Warriors and committing five errors, to help Rend Lake defeat the Vols 8-7. RLC got the lead in the 3rd scoring three runs on two hits and two Logan errors. The Vols would answer right back though with a 2-out, 2-run home run from Sammy Frontino to cut the deficit to 3-2. Logan would tie the game up in the 4th when Cody Jansen would score on a 2-out wild pitch. The game would stay tied through the 6th but Rend Lake would break the tie with a sacrifice fly in the 7th. Once again the Vols would answer back loading the bases with one out and getting two walks and a hit-by-pitch to take a 6-4 lead. RLC would battle right back getting back-to-back singles to start the inning and bringing both runners around to score to tie the game again at 6. The Warriors would keep momentum on their side capitalizing on a 1-out walk, followed by a single to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. After a sacrifice fly and a double Rend Lake would take a 8-6 lead into the final frame. Logan would not go quietly, Hunter Sullivan would work a lead off walk and come around to score on an RBI ground out from Hunter Combs. Cooper Trinkle would keep things alive with a 2-out single, but would be stranded at first. Offensively for the Vols, Cody Jansen would led the way with two hits, while Hunter Sullivan and Hunter Combs would score two runs each. On the mound, Luke Seed gave another quality start going six innings, giving up three unearned runs on two hits, while striking out 10. Andrew Zenner (0-1) would take the loss going two innings, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out two.

Against Lincoln Trail, the Vols would win a slug-fest, knocking out 14 hits, en route to a 12-8 victory. The Vols would have to come from behind again, after LTC would connect on a three run home run in the 3rd, but Logan would jump right back out in front with a six run 2nd, three run 3rd, and two run 4th, before the Statesmen could answer with a two run home run. The score would hold 12-5 until the 9th when Trail would fight back with another 3 run shot cutting the Logan lead to 12-8, but the Vols would close the door. On the mound Austin Ruesch (8-0) would carry the load going 8 innings, giving up five runs on 10 hits while striking out 12 and collecting the win. Hunter Ralls would finish the game on the bump, throwing the 9th. At the plate, Luke Brown would led the way going 3-6 with a double and two RBI. Hunter Sullivan, Ashton Creal, and Zach Parks would collect multi-hit games each.