May 9, 2022
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Freshman left fielder Ty Nettles smashed seven RBI on Sunday to lead the Roane State Raiders to an opening round, 13-inning win over Jackson State, 12-11. It was the second win over the Green Jays in just over a week.
On a career day for the Knoxville freshman, Nettles went 4-7, scored a run, and knocked in seven – the highest RBI count for a Raiders player this season.
However, no hit was as big as Nettles 2 RBI walk-off single in the bottom of the thirteenth inning.
With the game knotted at 11 after twelve innings of play, the Green Jays’ Blake Merwin walked, then stole second with one away.
The next batter, right fielder Mitch Sisk, homered off Raiders pitcher Parker Henderson to give Jackson State an 11-9 lead.
In the bottom half of the frame, new Roane State pitcher Matthew Jenkinson led off with a single. The next batter, RSCC third baseman Gabriel Monterrey was hit by a pitch, which put him on base and moved Jenkinson to second.
After a Jackson St. pitching change, the next Raiders batter, center field Ty Martin, collected his first hit of the day, a single, to load the bases.
Cody Kirkland stepped in to pinch hit for first baseman Jarrett Schiavone and summarily drew a base on balls to score Jenkinson from third, cutting the lead to Green Jays lead to one, 11-10.
Nettles stepped to the plate for his seventh at bat of the game. With the bases loaded and the infield playing shallow, Nettles hit a scorcher up the middle to score Monterrey and Martin, giving the Raiders a walk-off win in the thirteenth inning, 12-11.
On the day, Nettles fell a double short of hitting for the cycle.
In the third, he stroked a 2-RBI single. In the sixth, he added solo home run. In the eleventh, Nettles tagged a 2-run triple, before closing out the game with his 2-RBI, walk-off single.
Raiders head coach Cam Hamsley noted it was definitely a “big day” for the freshman outfielder. “He doubled his season RBI total in one day.”
Roane State entered the tournament on a hot streak and was won six of their last ten games. Hamsley (and the team) believe they can pull out the upset and win the conference tournament.
The team will face off against host Chattanooga St. at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulation and by Tennessee board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.
