Charleston, W. Va – Golden Eagle Baseball tested the limits of their pitching staff on Tuesday afternoon and into the evening, winning a four plus hour, 16 inning barnburner by way of a walk off.
 
What seemed to be just another casual midweek contest in late February quickly turned into somewhat of a pitcher's duel.
 
Charleston jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, bringing home one run on a JD Armstrong double in the left center field gap. 
 
Starter Drew Beckner looked strong through the first few innings, not allowing a run until he was pulled in the top of the 5^th inning. The Golden Eagles responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Kyle West brought home Brayden McCallister on a sacrifice fly to center field and they regained their lead at 2-1.
 
Robby Shepherd had a solid outing in relief after coming on for Beckner in the fifth. He worked 3.1 innings and was one out away from finishing the top of the 8^th before allowing an infield single. He would give way to Sam Slodic, who struggled with command, and allowed the inherited runner to reach as well as his own earned run. The lead would be 3-2 in favor of the Railsplitters heading into the bottom of the 8^th.
 
Behind in the count 0-1, Tyler Dellerman deposited his second long of the year over the right field fence and tied the game at three. The run would be the last that either side scored for over 7 innings.
 
Caleb Rush relieved Slodic to begin the 9^th, hoping for a short outing and a walk off winner in the bottom of the frame. Unfortunately for him, he would remain on the mound longer than any pitcher from either side in the contest. Rush was dominant however, he worked 5.0 scoreless frames, struck out six and gave up just one hit.
 
Charleston truly threatened to take the game just one time in extras. In the 10^th Dellerman led off the inning with a double but was stranded at third. Between the 11^th and 15^th innings, Charleston did not have more than one runner on base.
 
That changed in the 16^th inning. Giano Zuccaro led off the inning with a single up the middle and was moved to second on a sac bunt by Andre Martinez. With two outs Hector Carreon-Herrara was given a pinch hit opportunity and finally doubled home the winning run four hours and thirty-four minutes after first pitch.
 
Austin Dzierwa got the win on the hill. The grad student was lights out tossing 3.0 innings without allowing a run or a hit. He struck out six of the nine batters he faced on the night.

The Golden Eagles will be back in action on Saturday, March 4th at 1 pm against visiting Cedarville University.