A 4-run rally in the bottom of the 6th came up a single run short, and one last chance in the 7th also just missed as TCJ Eagles Baseball fell 15-14 to Champion Christian College in Game 1 of the NCCAA Division 2 National Invitational Tournament on Thursday. The Eagles trailed 15-6 and scored 8 unanswered runs over the three consecutive innings.

The 6th-inning rally began with Dawson Harrelson reacing on an error with 1 out. Tyson LaChapelle singled, and Markeinis Brown walked to load the bases. Seth Reeves reentered and ran for Brown, and a wild pitch allowed all runners to advance with Harrelson scoring. Dominic Gattinella's ground ball plated LaChapelle, and Gavin Williams cleared the bases with a 2-run double to make the score 15-14. 

The Eagles loaded the bases again with 1 out in the 7th, but Champion closer Jaxun Moore induced a strikeout and a flyout to the end the game. 

Trailing 15-6 as they came to bat in the 4th, the Eagles started their comeback. Larson Lott's triple drove in Cooper Scruggs (walk), and Harrelson's ground ball brought in Lott. In the 5th, Williams tripled home Logan McGann (walk), and Scruggs plated Williams with a base hit. 

Trinity started their scoring in the first when McGann walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch. After Champion went up 6-1 in the top of the 2nd, a 5-run bottom half tied the score at 6-6. Williams had the biggest blow of the inning: a three-run double. He eventually scored the tying run. 

[Gavin Williams: 3 for 5, 2 runs, 6 RBI in Thursday's game]

Champion, though, retook the lead in the third and added 7 runs over the next two innings; the bulk of those runs were unearned via numerous errors. Trinity committed 8, meaning only 5 of CCC's 15 total runs were earned. Champion led 15-6 after the top of the 6th. Champion got home runs from Cayden Shyrock and Andon Dupree.

The Eagles will play twice on Friday. First, TCJ is the visiting team against Randall University at 11:00 a.m. EST. The Eagles will then play as the away team against tournament host Arlington Baptist University at 5:00 p.m. EST. Two wins on Friday could qualify Trinity for the title game at 1:00 p.m. EST on Saturday based on the outcomes of the other Round Robbin games.