The Charger baseball erased an early deficit to defeat the Phoenix of Cumberland Friday afternoon, scoring seven runs in the final two innings to take the 9-8 victory.
 
Cumberland found success in the long-ball, as they plated runs on a solo shot and a three-run blast to take a 4-0 lead.
 
In the top of the fourth, Cade Marquardt recorded an RBI-single to set up a two-run shot from Jared Sitzmann. In the next half-inning, the Phoneix scored two runs with another coming from solo home run.
 
The Charger offense came alive in the top of the eighth, as Diego Trujillo led off with a single that setup up a two-run homer from Cam Reimer. The Cliff capitalized on the Phoenix mistakes defensively, as they tied the game 7-7 capped by an RBI single from Matthew Hmeilewski. The Phoenix shortly after hit another solo homer to take a 8-7 lead heading into the final frame.
 
Down to their final three outs, Easton Cone and Damon Schmid held the clutch bats for the Cliff. Cone hit an RBI-single to drive in Peyton Grant followed by a RBI-double from Damon Schmid to take a 9-8 lead.
 
With one out and a runner on first for Cumberland, Rance Bryant was able to force the Phoneix into a double-play ball, and the Charger defense recorded the final two outs to take the victory.
 
Trujillo and cone both went two-for-four at the plate while Marquardt went two-for-five at the dish.
 
The Chargers move to 6-10 overall, and will open up conference play next Friday, as the host a doubleheader against the Broncos of Hastings. Game one is slated for 1 p.m. with game two to follow shortly after.
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