ALBANY, Ga. –
Michael Maiocco struck out a career-high 15 batters and tossed seven scoreless innings to help Flagler College salvage a doubleheader split with Albany State University on Tuesday at Golden Ram Park. Flagler won the second game 10-0, but Albany State won in walk-off fashion in the first game, 5-4.
Flagler's record stands at 7-7 while Albany State is 1-17.
Maiocco (1-1) finished just one strikeout shy of tying the school's single-game record of 16, held by Dave Weithmann in 1989. At one point, Maiocco had retired 13 batters in a row, including 11 on strikeouts. He allowed only three hits and tossed 83 pitches, 68 of which were for strikes.
James Jean belted a grand slam in Flagler's six-run fourth inning.
Nick Oberg hit an RBI-double later in the frame.
Kolin McMillen hit an RBI-triple in the eighth.
The Saints pounded out 11 hits. McMillen went 2-for-3 with a double to go along with a triple, walked twice and scored three runs.
Igor Baez went 2-for-3 with a double and he scored a run.
Dylan Jones collected two singles, scored a run and drove in another.
Tyler Wilcher (0-2) took the loss after tossing 3.1 innings, allowed four hits and four runs. He walked two and fanned four. Wilcher was one of six pitchers used by the Rams.
Trevor Billings singled twice for the Rams.
In the first game, Flagler trailed 4-2 going into the top of the ninth inning.
Lorenzo Butler hit a sacrifice fly and Jean was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Reise McDaniel hit a one-out single off Flagler reliever
Nick Martinez (0-1) to start the Rams' rally. Billings was hit by a pitch and the Saints turned to closer
Jeremy Graf to close out the game. A grounder to shortstop forced out Billings and Albany State had runners on the corners with two outs. Pinch hitter Theodore Smith hit a dribbler about 35 feet up the third base line allowing McDaniel to score from third with the winning run.
Payton Dixon (1-0) picked up the win in relief after tossing a scoreless seventh inning. He struck out two batters.
Juan Vidal went 2-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and he drove in a run. McDaniel singled twice, knocked in a run and scored another. Bryant Prather belted a solo home run.
Martinez tossed 2.1 innings in relief for the Saints. He allowed two hits and runs while striking out three batters.
Jordan Doyle started and lasted 1.1 innings before taking a line drive off of his knee.
Baez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run for Flagler.
Flagler returns to Peach Belt Conference action on Friday at the University of North Carolina Pembroke at 6 p.m.
