KODAK, Tenn. — Senior Joe Gaines blasted a grand slam as part of a huge rally in the fifth inning for Union College, giving them a 22-3 win over Alice Lloyd College during the non-conference matchup at Smokies Stadium on Wednesday.

With the win, the Bulldogs move to 13-7 on the year, while the Eagles fall to 2-6 overall.

RECAP

The game started out just like any old baseball game with Union up 2-1, until the fifth inning when the Bulldogs exploded with 18 runs. Nick Shumaker tripled down the right-field line to score two runs with no outs and Luke Reinert stepped up and lined a triple to down left-center field to score two more. Union moved runners around the bases scoring 10 insurance runs. With bases loaded, Gaines launched the second home run of his career on an 0-1 count over the right field fence to give the Bulldogs a 20-1 lead.

Union scored an insurance run in each of the following innings making it a 22-1 advantage off another Reinert triple to put him in scoring position and a Ty Holstrom RBI single. Sinjin Shoop added an RBI single as well.

QUOTABLE

“Yesterday, we kind of thought we had the game against Hiwassee. So, when they won it put us down,” said Gaines. “We just looked at today as a new day and we knew we had to get a split. That was our mentality coming into this game that we had to win it no matter what.”

BULLDOG NOTES

As a team, Union tied the record for most triples in a game (3) this being the fifth time in program history last time was in 2008 against Tennessee Wesleyan during the region tournament.

Union set a new record scoring 18 runs in an inning.

Four Bulldogs hit doubles in Pudge Morgan, Robbie DelaMontaigne, Holmstrom, and Reinert

Left-handed pitcher Grant Lohmeier collected his first collegiate win pitching four complete innings and allowing two hits and one run while striking out three batters.

Gaines led Union with four RBIs, followed by Shumaker with three, and Matthew Bryant, Daniel Neal, Holmstrom, Morgan, and Shoop with two.

NEXT UP FOR THE BULLDOGS

Union will travel to Bluefield, Va., to compete in a three-game, Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series against Bluefield College. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. on Friday.