Jacob Burke drove home the tying and winning runs with a base hit to left, and TCJ Eagles Baseball came from behind to defeat Paine College 4-3 in the opening game of the 2026 South Region Tournament. The two-run rally was the second in as many innings as the Eagles erased a 1-0 deficit in the 6th before needing to do it again in the 7th.

With the bases loaded and 1 out, Burke lined a 2-1 fastball into left field for a base hit. Angel Perez scored the tying run form third, and Morgan Muhlbauer raced home from second without hesitation and dove head-first under the tag to score the game winner. 

[Jacob Burke: 1 for 3, BB, Game-Winning 2 RBI vs. Paine on Monday]

The inning started with Trinity behind 3-2. Larson Lott drew a leadoff walk, and Perez ran for him as the courtesy runner for the catcher. After an out, Muhlbauer lined a double to center to put runners at second and third. Paine walked Dominic Gattinella intentionally to load the bases and bring up Burke. 

In the 6th, Trinity came to bat trailing 1-0. Burke was hit by a pitch, and Richaun Amaro doubled off the fence. With two outs, a popup evaded the Paine first baseman, and both runners scored to put Trinity ahead 2-1. 

Paine, though, got a two-out, two-strike, two-run home run from Santiago Ortiz in the top of the 7th to retake the lead 3-2. Amaro then got a groundout to send the game to the bottom half and soon after received the win on Burke's heroics. Paine got a run in the 4th, and the score remained 1-0 until the 6th. 

Brodie Nichols pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. He made big pitches when needed most, and his defense made plays in clutch situations. 

[PHOTO: Toccoa Falls College Athletics on the NCCAA Network]

The Eagles will play on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. against the winner of Monday's Game 2 match-up between Toccoa Falls College and Baptist University of Florida. The game could start late if the 9:30 a.m. contest runs long.