A tremendous comeback in Game 1 and stellar pitching in Game 2 led to the sweep of a very tough NAIA Florida National University baseball team. Two saves by one reliever proved huge as well as TBC Eagles Baseball won twice on Saturday to take the series 2-1 at Ford Family Park on Jacksonville's Southside.

Game 1: Eagles 9, FNU 8

Graham Gorman started the rally with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to cut a six-run deficit in half. With two on and two out, Gorman launched a long drive to right center to drive in both Seth Reeves (runner for Larson Lott, walk) and Jacob Brigman (infield single).

[Graham Gorman started the comeback rally with a three-run homer.]

That blow for Gorman (1), changed an 8-2 deficit to 8-5 and gave the Eagles the momentum they needed.

One inning later, TBC rallied for four runs to take the lead. Blake Bandy, now the pitcher, reached on an error that opened the door to start the frame. Jacob Burke sacrificed Reeves (runner) to second. Tyson LaChapelle drove in Reeves with his first collegiate hit, a double to left, in his first at bat.

Gavin Williams singled home both Logan McGann (infield single) and LaChappel to tie the game at 8-8. The Eagles broke that tie with a double from Lott that brought in Williams.

That rally made a winner of Bandy, who pitched a scoreless top of the sixth despite allowing three hits. Bandy picked a runner off first to help eliminate any damage then soon after got a popup and a strikeout to end the threat. Drew Billings earned Save #1 after entering with a man on and 1 out in the seventh. After a walk, Billings struck out a batter then got a great defensive play from Jacob Brigman at first on a scoop of a low throw to end the game.

The Eagles scored twice in the first (Brigman, Gorman RBI singles) before FNU tied the score in the third. Then, Chris Rivera gave his team a 6-2 lead with a grand slam to cap a 6-run inning. FNU added one more in each of the fourth and fifth innings before the Eagles made their move.

Game 2: Eagles 4, FNU 3

Again, Billings shut down the Conquistadors for the save as he entered with two outs in the sixth and the bases empty. FNU's Chrisitan Febis had just hit a two-run shot to make the score 4-3. Billings got a strikeout to end the sixth then pitched a scoreless seventh for his second save of the day and the season.

[Drew Billings saved both games on Saturday.]

Trinity rallied for two in the first on a RBI double from Williams and a sacrifice fly from Darren Goeke, Jr. The Eagles went ahead 4-0 in the third on Goeke's RBI single and Lott's run-scoring ground ball. Logan McGann and Ryan Onkst each scored in both innings. Those two combined for a 4-4 game and two hit batsmen (1 each).

Florida National got a run in the fifth before their mini rally in the sixth.

Brigman pitched 5 innings of 1-run ball to earn the win. He allowed 5 hits while walking 2 and fanning 5. Preston Leech made his college debut before Billings closed it out.

Coach Copeland returns to the dugout.

TBC's founding skipper, Coach Jon Copeland returned to the dugout for the first time since March, after recovering from a long illness. 

"It was great to see Coach Jon Copeland back coaching his team today!" said Eagles Athletic Director John D. Jones.  

"One of the things that I've always respected about Coach is that whether we're at home or on the road (like we were today), the 'Honor God' sign is always posted in the TBC dugout. When we first hired Coach Copeland more than 10 years ago, he told me that 1 Samuel 2:30 would be foundational to the baseball program: 'Whoever honors me I will honor.'" 

God has clearly honored Coach Copeland's steady and faithful leadership of the Trinity Baptist College Baseball program for all these years! Welcome back, Coach!

[The Eagles and Conquistadors congratulate each other in the setting sun.]

Next Up

The Eagles will make their first road trip next weekend for a three-game series at NCCAA South Region Paine College on January 31 and February 1. Bob Jones University then comes to town for three on February 7 and 8. The NCCAA Division 2 Invitational follows from February 13-15 at Arlington Baptist College in Arlington, TX.