Bombers score enough in third inning to withstand Chargers’ late rally, earn road victory

CARTHAGE, Ill. — One big outburst was enough to carry the Macomb baseball team to victory.

The Bombers trailed Illini West 2-0 in Saturday’s game at Jake Burling Field before erupting for six runs in the third inning. The Chargers scored twice in the sixth inning and got the leadoff hitter on base in the seventh inning before the rally fizzled, letting the Bombers walk away with a 6-4 victory.

The Chargers (21-9) started strong, scoring twice in the first inning. After Nick Johnson led off with a walk and Grady Blue singled, Wes Roberston delivered an RBI groundout. A walk to Stephen Sparks led to Ethan Carlisle delivering an RBI single for the 2-0 lead.

In the third, Jaxon Barclay got the Bombers’ rally going with a one-out single. After Langdon Lambert walked, Leinbach dropped down a bunt single to load the bases. Drew Watson then doubled to left field to drive in two runs. An Emmett Beck sacrifice fly gave Macomb (14-13) the lead before three consecutive run-scoring hits — a single by Nick Elbe, a triple by Leighton Lambert and a double by Kaden Knupp.

It stayed that way until the sixth when the Chargers mounted a two-out comeback. With a runner on second base, Blue delivered an RBI single and Robertson was intentionally walked. Johnson scored on a passed ball, but the other runners were stranded when Sparks lined out.

Blaine Eddington went 4 ⅔ innings for the Bombers, striking out four and walking four while allowing three hits and two runs. Elbe pitched the final 2 ⅓ innings, striking out four. Cash Jones suffered the loss for the Chargers, allowing six runs and six hits in three innings with two strikeouts and one walk.