COTE ST. LUC, QUE –
Daniel Zevnik, a senior from Vaudreuil, Que., drew a bases-loaded walk to cap a remarkable six-run rally with two outs in the final inning as McGill stunned Concordia for a 6-5 walk-off victory in the regular season baseball opener, Tuesday.
The feat was two runs short of the school record for overcoming the largest deficit in a win, accomplished eight years ago when McGill erased a seven-run difference for a 16-10 home-field victory against the Montreal Carabins on Sept. 13, 2016.
The visiting Stingers had a 7-4 edge in hits in the game played at Gary Carter Field, which serves as the home venue for both schools. Concordia scored in each of the first three innings to take a 4-0 advantage and added another in the top of the seventh with what appeared to be the final dagger. But starting pitching
Connor Melanson ran out of steam in the seventh inning and reliever
Milo Auslander couldn't find the strike zone – conceding three walks and a hit -- as the Redbirds awoke from the slumber to conclude a three-hour marathon.
"I have to give credit to our hitters for staying patient in a big moment," said
Christopher Haddad, a former McGill catcher now in his second year as the Redbirds skipper. "We struggled throughout the game, trying to find a way to just get guys on base and bring them in. Their starter pitched very well and our guys were hitting the ball right at their fielders. But the tide turned when Concordia changed their pitcher in the final inning."
Zevnik ignited the rally by walking with one out in the bottom of the seventh. He advanced to second base when
Jett Jarvis was hit by a pitch, moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on
Brad Marelich's RBI double to right.
Jonas Press then was hit by a pitch to load the bases and the next two batters walked – pinch-hitter
Samuel Walsh and
Wilton Bompey – reducing the deficit to 5-3.
Alastair Mitchell followed with a two-run single to right to knot the score at 5-5.
Alessandro Perreault then walked to bring Zevnik back for a second at bat and five pitches later, the game was over.
Reliever
Robert Passmore-Waugh, McGill's fourth pitcher of the day, was credited with the win in relief. Starter
Nathaniel Factor surrendered three hits and four runs (three earned) over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two, walking seven and hitting one.
Agastya Kushari and
Donovan Worrall also mopped up in relief stints to limit the damage.
Melanson took the loss for Concordia. The right-handed hurler went six and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on three hits, striking out five, walking five and hitting four batters.
Mitchell led the Redbirds offence with two RBIs from the number seven spot in the lineup to finish 1-for-4 on the day. Marelich went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Bompey drew three of the eight walks issued by Concordia.
Matthew Filippone paced the Stingers with two hits in four at bats.
Next on tap, McGill (1-0) will travel to the Universite de Montreal (0-0) on Wednesday (Sept. 4) at 7:30 p.m. at Parc Claude Robillard. The Stingers (0-1) will host U de M the following night.
BOXSCORE
2024 McGill REDBIRDS ROSTER
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
McGill University - Athletics & Recreation
CELL:
514-983-7012
TWITTER:
@EarlZukerman
E-MAIL:
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
