April 19, 2008

Box Score Game 2 

                Athens, TN—The Lions traveled to Athens, TN on Saturday for a big weekend series with the Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan College. The Bulldogs entered the game in a 3-way tie for 1^st place in the AAC and were ranked 10^th in the NAIA national poll. The Lions entered the game at 18-23, looking to ‘cement’ their 6^th place seeding in the conference tournament with a win against a Tennessee Wesleyan team they had never beaten.

                After being retired in order in the 1^st inning, the Lions fell behind early as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Bryan recorded a single out in the game. Lions’ starter Daniel Bosarge (Jr., Rome, GA) managed to work out of the inning without allowing another run, but the 5 run cushion was more than enough for the Bulldogs as TWC starter Kris Jiggitts shut down the Lions in the game 1 victory. Bryan managed just 4 hits off Jiggitts en route to the 12-0 defeat in a game shortened by the 10-run mercy rule. Bosarge, who was credited with the loss, was not helped out by his defense, which made 4 critical errors in the game, allowing the Bulldogs to build to their early lead and coast to the big victory.

                Looking to reverse their fortunes in, the Lions sent Daniel Zimmerman (So., Grandview, TN) to the mound in Game 2 and the right hander threw well in the early going, keeping his team in the game. The Lions managed a few hits in the early going, but had nothing to show for their work until the 4^th inning when they plated 2 runs to cut into the Bulldogs’ lead. Clinging to a slim 4-2 advantage, the Bulldogs added 2 more runs in the bottom of the 5^th on an Eddie Van Es homerun off the scoreboard in right center, and Alan Wimmer added a 3-run shot in the bottom of the 6^th inning to push the lead to 7. Bryan would threaten, but could not answer and wound up falling to the Bulldogs 9-2 in the 2^nd game of the day.

                The Lions now stand at 18-25 heading into this week’s home and away set with Tennessee Temple University before wrapping up the regular season when they host the UVA-Wise Cavaliers on Saturday in Dayton. Between the games, the Lions will honor their seniors , and Bryan will be looking for two wins to ensure their spot in the post-season.