By: Emily Tuttle

RICHMOND, IN. — The Rivets (17-13) made a quick 30-minute turnaround before heading into game two of their doubleheader against the Richmond Flying Mummies (10-21). Though they struggled with errors, the Rivs continued their momentum from game one and walked off the Mummies on their home field in a 13-12 fashion.

The Rivets were the home team in the second game tonight due to a makeup game from earlier in the season. 

In the first, with two aboard, Keith Eusebio (Paradise Valley CC) singled, but got caught in a rundown between first and second. With the defense occupied, both Alex Tabbert (UIC) and Joey Appino (Carroll University) scored the first couple runs of the game. 

Logan Koeller (Florida A&M University) started on the mound for the Rivets, but the second inning proved to be troublesome for him. Though he stranded two runners in the first, he pitched through the order in the second. He allowed a leadoff walk, then the runner advanced on a balk before four runs scored. 

The inning was not only a struggle for Koeller, but also for the Rivets defense. They allowed two errors that cost them bases and runs. Koeller allowed three walks in the inning and threw a wild pitch. 

He finished his night after the second, with four runs, three walks and one strikeout. 

Both squads dueled back and forth on the night. When one called, the other answered. In the third, Gavin Taylor (UNLV) left his first mark on the game with a three-run homer to left field to snag back the lead. 

The Rivets added three more in the fourth as well, off a couple of bases-loaded walks and a sac fly. 

But the Mummies countered with a four-run sixth inning. They led off with a triple, then a double, before the Rivets’ errors plagued them again. Two runners came in on the E6 before the next batter sent a two-run shot out the yard. Just like that, the Mummies snatched the lead back and Rivets’ Ammon Shaul (GateWay CC) had yet to record an out. 

But Taylor had some magic of his own up his sleeve in the sixth. Appino led off with a single, extending his hit streak to eight games. A couple of free passes then loaded the bases as Taylor stepped up to the dish. 

Taylor added four more RBIs to his total with one swing of the bat—a heroic grand slam off the scoreboard. 

But just when it seemed like the Rivets had sent the Flying Mummies packing, their errors came back to bite. 

The Mummies put up three runs in the top of the seventh, off an error, a sac fly and an RBI single to tie the game. 

Rivets manager Bob Koopman met Shaul at the mound as Hank Allred (Alcorn State University) took over. Allred got out of the inning, and the Rivets hoped they had some magic left to spare in the bottom of the seventh. 

With one out, Eusebio drew a free pass. Coby Neville was at the plate; Eusebio stole second. Then Neville belted a single to center field, bringing Eusebio cruising around third and safe at home. 

Neville walked off the Mummies on their home turf, and the Rivets gained two wins in one day. They find themselves still in the hunt for the playoffs, three games back from the first-place Leprechauns and two games back from the second-place Pit Spitters. 

But the Rivets are 8-2 in their last 10 games, finding the right time to get hot. 

The Rivs will finish off their season series against the Flying Mummies tomorrow at 5:35 pm CT.