Fitzpatrick, Company Lift Eureka to Walk-Off Win Over Greenville

EUREKA, Ill. – Behind a game-tying home run from Conor Fitzpatrick and a walk-off double by Noah Company, the Eureka baseball team rallied from a late deficit to secure a thrilling 15-14 victory over Greenville on Tuesday, marking its first SLIAC win of the season and its second straight home walk-off win.

After four scoreless innings from freshman Connor Metz (Tinley Park, Ill./Victor J. Andrew), Eureka broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Dylan Smith (Farina, Ill./South Central) led off with a single before Grant Hackney (Morton, Ill./Morton) followed with an RBI double to open the scoring. Josh Frenden (New Port Richey, Fla./River Ridge) was then hit by a pitch, and Camden Smith (Florence, Ala./Florence) reached on a single that allowed Hackney to score on a throwing error. Joshua Stanley (Huntsville, Texas/Huntsville) added an RBI groundout to give the Red Devils a 3-0 lead.

Greenville answered in the fifth with four runs to take a 4-3 lead, but Eureka responded immediately. Gabe Peters (Washington, Ill./Washington Community) singled to start the inning, and after a walk by Noah Company (Le Roy, Ill./Le Roy) and another free pass to Dylan Smith loaded the bases, Hackney delivered a grand slam to put Eureka back on top, 7-4.

The Panthers chipped away with a run in the sixth, but Eureka extended its lead in the bottom half. After a leadoff walk by Austin Wilkerson (Spring, Texas/Spring) and aggressive baserunning from pinch runner Montrez West (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville), Peters and Andrew Zimmerman (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) reached base to apply pressure. Company later delivered an RBI single and came around to score following two stolen bases and a throwing error, giving the Red Devils a 10-5 advantage through six innings.

Greenville surged back with three runs in the seventh and then erupted for six runs in the eighth to take a 14-10 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Zimmerman singled and Company followed with a base hit before Dylan Smith drew a walk to load the bases. Hackney added an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 14-11.

Sophomore Ethan McDonald (Cleveland, Okla./Mannford) kept Eureka within striking distance with a scoreless top of the ninth, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

Camden Smith led off the ninth with a single, and Stanley followed with an infield hit to bring the tying run to the plate. Pinch hitter Conor Fitzpatrick (North Barrington, Ill./Barrington) then delivered the biggest swing of the day, blasting a three-run blast to straightaway center for his first career home run, tying the game at 14-14.

Eureka kept the momentum going as Peters reached on an error, and Zimmerman drew a walk to move the winning run into scoring position. Company capped the comeback with a walk-off double to left-center, scoring pinch runner Joe Clark (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) and sealing the 15-14 victory.

Company led the way offensively, going 3-for-5 with a walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored, including the game-winning hit. Hackney finished 2-for-4 with a walk, six RBIs, a grand slam, and a double. Camden Smith added three hits, while Fitzpatrick drove in three with his game-tying home run.

Metz turned in a strong start, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. McDonald earned the win with two innings of relief, including a key shutout frame in the ninth.

The win marks Eureka's second consecutive walk-off win at home after Zimmerman delivered a 9-8 win over Knox on March 10. It also marks Eureka's second straight walk-off victory against Greenville, following a 5-4 win over the Panthers on April 8, 2025.

UP NEXT

Eureka returns to action this weekend with a three-game home series against Lyon. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, followed by a noon finale on Saturday.