On a cold, gloomy day at historic Rickwood Field, Miles was able to find a big ray of sunshine at the end of its season opener against Auburn Montgomery. The Golden Bears scored twice in the 10th inning to get their only lead of the day, just in time to earn a 4-3 win over the Warharks.
With one out and Clifton Orr standing on third base, John Riley hit a slow roller towards second base. Even with the infield drawn in to cut down the potential winning run, Orr was able to slide in before the tag and set off a jubilant celebration that ended up the first base line. It was the cumulation of an uphill battle that saw Miles squander a couple of chances early but still get the victory in the end.
Using the international tiebreaker rule that was implemented for this season, both teams were able to place a runner at second base to start the 10th inning and they both cashed in. AUM (0-1) got a one-out double to right center from Jarren Wright off reliever Kaleb Allen (1-0) that scored Nick Freeman to give the Warhawks a 3-2 lead. It was the only blemish against the Miles bullpen, which allowed just the unearned run over the final eight innings of the game.
Miles got the same opportunity to start the 10th with a runner on second and Landon Whitehead – in as a pinch-runner – stole third base, one of four steals on the afternoon for the Golden Bears. Orr, who was hitless in four at-bats prior – looped one to short right field to score Whitehead and slid into second ahead of the throw for a hustle double. Max Davenport then bunted him over to third to set up the winning play.
Prior to the 10th inning, the most valuable player for Miles may have been Anthony Ramos. The right fielder made two spectacular defensive plays that kept the Golden Bears in the contest.
AUM led 2-0 after two innings and was looking for more in the third. Cooper Doughman smoked a ball to deep right center but Ramos took away certain extra bases when he caught the drive on a full sprint before slamming into the wall. In the fourth, it was his bouncer back to the mound that was mishandled and allowed Tyler Spruill to score and cut the deficit in half. His defense showed up again in the seventh when he raced in and dived to grab a sinking liner off the bat of Freeman, flipping it into second base for a double play that ended another Warhawks scoring threat. Miles would tie the game in the eighth when Lakell Freeman – who pinch ran and stole second base – scored ahead of a hit by Kaleb Priest that his off the second base bag and bound into left field for a double.