February 13, 2008

 

                East Point, GA—After being swept in a 3 game weekend set by the Rio Grande(Oh.) Redmen, the Bryan Lions headed to East Point, GA on Wednesday afternoon to take on the Chargers of Atlanta Christian College in a non-conference double-header. Losing the 3 games against Rio Grande by a combined 5 runs left a bad taste in the Lions’ mouths, and they were eager to take the field again and put forth a better showing.

                Bryan got out to a hot start, tallying 6 runs in the first 4 innings, while junior hurler Mark Barnwell, a transfer from Roane State Community College, shut down the Chargers in his first start of the year. The big blows for the Lions came off the bats of freshman Ryan Keylon and sophomore Ryan Henn, each with a 2-run homerun. The shot to deep left centerfield was Keylon’s 3^rd of the young season; Henn’s shot was the first round-tripper of his college career. Atlanta Christian responded with 2 runs of its own in the bottom of the 4^th before freshman Jared Robin came on in relief of Barnwell and ended the threat, stranding two runners.

                Robin was wild in his second inning of relief, allowing 4 runs before giving way to freshman J.D. Davis who came in from shortstop to relieve Robin. Davis had trouble finding the strike zone, and before the final out of the 5^th inning, the Chargers had exploded for 7 runs to take a 9-6 lead. Both teams went down quietly in the 6^th inning, and the Lions were faced with the challenge of trying to mount another come from behind victory.

                Unsuccessful in the Rio Grande series, Bryan found new life in the top of the 7^th inning, playing small ball and manufacturing 4 runs with 2 outs to take a 10-9 lead. Ryan Henn hit a 1-out double to get things started for the Lions. Will Newman singled to score Henn from second. Back-to-Back walks to Brad Starned  and Davis loaded the bases for freshman Ryan Keylon, who was hit by a pitch scoring Newman from third. The walk set the stage for sophomore Zach Bowe to deliver the biggest hit of the year, a 2-run single which put the Lions ahead for good. Daniel Zimmerman, who came on in the bottom of the 6th inning, slammed the door shut on the Chargers in the 7^th, and the Lions had completed the comeback, winning 10-9.