MONTREAL -- Evan Dunne of Mamaroneck, N.Y., hit a dramatic walk-off-the-field single as McGill rallied for three runs in the final inning to edge Concordia 12-11 in the RSEQ baseball regular season opener at Gary Carter Field in the borough of Côte Saint-Luc, Tuesday.

The Redbirds came from behind five times during the game before finally putting away a pesky Concordia squad. The Stingers held leads of 2-0 in the first inning, 3-2 in the second, 7-3 in the third and 11-9 in the seventh, where McGill bounced back with three in the bottom of the inning to win it.

Dunne, a 21-year-old management senior, hit a hard ground-ball single to centre for the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh, on an 0-1 pitch count. He led all batters with three hits in five at bats, scored one run and knocked in two others.

Trailing by two in their final at bats, the Redbirds came to life when infielder Brad Marelich of Pasedena, Calif., walked and advanced to second base after Toronto native Jonas Press was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved up on a double steal and then scored to tie the contest at 11-11 on an ensuing one-out triple to centre-field by Sacha Remillard, a sophomore from Lorraine, Que. Pinch-hitter Marco Forlini, a freshman from Montreal, was walked intentionally, setting the table for Dunne's heroics.

The game's only home run was hit by McGill outfielder Alessandro Perreault, a management sophomore from Montreal, who smacked a two-run shot to spark a six-run rally to put McGill ahead 9-7.

Reliever Justin Zabudsky was credited with the win in one inning of work. He was one of six pitchers used by the Redbirds, in relief of starter Gabriel Braun, a right-hander who lasted 2.2 innings.

The only multi-hit player for Concordia was catcher Matthew Fletcher, who was 2-for-4 with a walk, one RBI and a run scored.

The Stingers deployed eight pitchers who gave up a combined 10 earned runs on eight hits, 13 walks, three hit batsmen and nine strikeouts. Reliever Milo Auslander-Padgham was saddled with the loss.

McGill, which improved to 6-1 overall, has outscored opponents by a spectacular 81-48 margin over their seven games.

The Redbirds will travel south of the border on Sunday (Sept. 10) for a doubleheader against Saint Michael's College in Colchester, VT. The first game is slated for 11 am, followed by the matinee nightcap at about 2 p.m. McGill returns home to play on Sept. 12 against the Montreal Carabins in the newly-formed four-team RSEQ league, which is re-introducing the sport as a pilot project for this season. UQTR is the fourth team and Université Laval is expected to join next year.

BOXSCORE

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012
WEBSITE:www.mcgillathletics.ca
E-MAIL:earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca