By Roy Harper
GARRETT, Md. — On Monday afternoon, Potomac State turned a five-run deficit into a comeback victory, storming past Garrett College, 12-7, behind an eight-run fifth inning and five scoreless frames in relief from Jaxon Drennen.
Garrett wasted no time setting the tone in the opening frame. A pair of early baserunners set the stage for Sebastian Mayfield, who laced a two-run double into the gap to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.
Garrett extended the lead in the second, when a sacrifice fly from Chase Davis extended the margin before Mayfield struck again — this time with a two-run single that capped a three-run inning and pushed the lead to 5-0.
Potomac State finally broke through in the fourth. After working traffic on the bases, Dylan Rice lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Ryan Conrad and trimming the deficit to 5-1.
Garrett answered immediately, manufacturing two more runs in the bottom half with patience at the plate — drawing a pair of bases-loaded walks to stretch the lead to 7-1.
The fifth inning saw the Catamounts show a bit of patience as well. Lex Wescott opened the inning with a double. John Mallow then walked and Drennen was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Braeden Oviedo then drew another walk to bring home a run.
Moments later, Callen Miller stepped in and delivered the swing of the day — a towering grand slam that cleared the fence and flipped the complexion of the game, suddenly pulling Potomac State within one at 7-6.
Tate Musko, who had reached on an infield single crossed the plate on a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, and Lex Wescott then lined a deep ball to centerfield that Mayfield made tha defensive play of the day robbing Wescott of a home run, but the play did result in a sacrifice fly that to give Potomac State its first lead of the afternoon. John Mallow added insurance with an RBI double, capping an eight-run inning that turned a six-run hole into a 9-7 advantage.
While the offense seized momentum, Jaxon Drennen made sure it never slipped away.
Entering in relief in the fourth inning, Drennen was stellar. Over five dominant innings, he allowed just three hits while striking out six, silencing a potent Garrett lineup. He worked
Potomac State added to the cushion in the sixth when Musko launched a solo home run, extending the lead to 10-7.
In the ninth, Wescott delivered the final blow — a two-run homer that sailed over the left field fence and punctuated the comeback, pushing the Catamount lead to 12-7.
Braden Sloan closed the door in the final inning, striking out one.