The Golden Eagles came up big on Senior Night with a dramatic 2-1 walk-off win over the 13-4 Bellefonte Red Raiders.
Brandon McClure led the way for Tyrone, throwing a complete game and playing a key role in the seventh-inning rally that gave the Golden Eagles the win.
McClure allowed just one run on six hits while striking out three and walking one.
For most of the night, Bellefonte ace Zach Lehman kept Tyrone’s offense quiet. Lehman pitched six outstanding scoreless innings, with his fastball sitting around 87-88 mph, while mixing in effective off-speed pitches to keep the Golden Eagles off balance.
But the bottom of the seventh belonged to the Tyrone seniors, who finally broke through.
Trailing 1-0, Connor McClure was hit by a pitch to start the rally, and Jett Hoover entered as a courtesy runner. Braylon Plummer then worked a tough at-bat and drew a walk, putting the winning run on base.
Owen Oakes followed with a single to left field, loading the bases and setting the stage for McClure.
With one out and the bases loaded, McClure bunted the ball back to the pitcher. Lehman fielded the ball, but overthrew the catcher at the plate, allowing Hoover to score from third with the tying run and Plummer to score the winning run.
The throwing error gave Tyrone a 2-1 walk-off victory and capped a memorable win over one of the top teams on the Golden Eagles’ schedule.
The win was also an important one for Tyrone’s playoff positioning as the Golden Eagles improved to 10-8 on the season.
Tyrone will close out the regular season against Clearfield on May 11.
BOX SCORE
BELLEFONTE (1): Fortney lf 301, Lehman p 201, Mattern 2b 301, VonGunden dh 302, Crouthamel 1b 300, McHail c 300, A. Houser 3b 300, Henry cf 301, C. Houser rf 200. Totals — 25-1-6.
TYRONE (2): Parsons c 301, Stroup ss 201, Kustenbauder cf 300, Zupon 2b 300, C. McClure 1b 200, Hoover 000, Plummer lf 210, Oakes rf 301, Frye 3b 100, Starr 200, B. McClure p 200. Totals — 23-2-3.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Bellefonte 000 001 0–1 6 2
Tyrone 000 000 2–2 3 1
E–A. Houser, Lehman, Frye. RBI–VonGunden, B. McClure. WP–B. McClure. LP–Lehman. SO–Lehman 4, B. McClure 3. BB–Lehman 1, B. McClure 1.
Records: Bellefonte (13-4); Tyrone (10-8).
