FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Top Rockhurst 12-11 in 11-Inning Thriller
 
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Never-Say-Die Mounties used a go-ahead RBI single from Scott Rockwell and a gutsy 10-strikeout effort on the mound by Alec Covel to outlast Rockhurst (Ks.) 12-11 in an 11-inning thriller Thursday evening at Jack Russell Stadium.
 
Rockwell and Taylor Hillson each went 4-7 at the plate while Covel allowed just four hits over the final 4.2 innings to lead Mansfield (8-4) to its third win in the Sunshine State.
 
The Mountaineers opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when Tanner Klein led-off with a double and moved over to third before Zach Merkle knocked home a run.
 
A defensive error in the bottom of the fourth extended the inning and allowed Rockhurst to score four unearned runs highlighted by Mitch Stickney's three-run homer.
 
Mansfield responded in the fifth by putting runners on the corners via back-to-back one-out singles by Hillson and Rockwell. Rockwell stole a bag before Wes Custer drove a two-out, two-RBI single into right center. Klein scored Custer to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Rockhurst continued to swing the bats in the bottom of the inning, hanging four more runs on four hits to jump out to an 8-4 advantage.
 
After a scoreless sixth, the Mountaineer bats came alive once again with Zephan Kash and Custer starting the inning with singles before Klein reached on an error allowing Kash to come home. Owen Lukens and Merkle drove in runs with RBI singles before a Dalton Lewis RBI double in the gap scored another to tie the game at 8-8. Rockwell stroked a two-out double down the right field line to bring in two more and put Mansfield up 10-8.
 
The Hawks regained the lead in the seventh, tacking on three runs on three hits and an error to lead 11-10.
 
Facing last at bats in the top of the ninth, Rockwell singled to right field with one out and stole second. Kash came up huge with an RBI single up the middle to score Rockwell and tie the game at 11 all.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Covel struck out the first batter and forced a ground out before allowing a single. Mansfield catcher Jerry Chavarria fired a strike down to second base to catch the Rockhurst baserunner stealing and force extra innings.
 
Mansfield went down 1-2-3 in the 10^th and the Hawks went down swinging and looking in their first two at bats. Back-to-back hits put two runners in scoring position, but Covel ended the threat with another K.
 
Lewis opened the 11^th with a single to left field and Chavarria wore a pitch before Hillson loaded the bases with his single to left field. Rockwell drove a ball through the left side to give the Mountaineers the go-ahead run. A double-play and a ground out ended the threat as Mansfield led 12-11 heading into the bottom of the 11^th.
 
Stickney got aboard with a lead-off walk and moved over to second on a sac bunt. However, Covel shut the door on the Hawks by striking out the final two batters.
 
Covel earned his second win of the season, pitching the final 4.2 innings with just four hits and two walks allowed while recording 10 strikeouts. In just 11.1 innings of works this season, Covel has fanned a team-best 24 batters.
 
Tyler House pitched a solid 2.0 innings with no earned runs and a strikeout while starter Billy Rummings pitched 4.1 innings with three earned runs, three walks and four Ks.
 
Alex Merithew took the loss for Rockhurst.
 
A day after belting out 22 hits against Upper Iowa, Mansfield totaled 23 hits in the win over Rockhurst. The 23 hits is the most for the Mountaineers since pounding out 29 in a win over Binghamton in 1996.
 
The last time Mansfield went 11 innings in a game was in a 6-4 win over Mercyhurst back in 2009.
 
The Mountaineers take on Cedarville (Ohio) tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Jack Russell Stadium.