March 6, 2008

Box Score Game 2 

                Dayton, TN—The Lions earned a split on Thursday night with the visiting Toccoa Falls Eagles in a non-conference doubleheader.  Bryan’s bats were hot all night long as they won game one 9-5 after pounding out 13 hits. The hits kept on coming in game 2 as the Lions pounded out 12 more hits, but couldn’t manage to hold onto a late 10-5 lead as the eagles scored 8 runs in the last inning to steal the victory from the Lions in dramatic fashion.

                Game 1 starter Daniel Zimmerman threw well for the Lions, limiting Toccoa Falls to just 5 runs, scattering 6 hits over 5 innings. The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 2^nd inning and never looked back, scoring 3 more in the 4^th and plating 3 runs again in the 6^th for the 9-5 victory. Bryan was led at the plate in game one by Jeremy Potts and Ryan Henn who drove in two runs a piece. Henn’s two RBIs came on a 2 run homerun in the 4^th inning, his second of the year.

                Daniel Bosarge and Mark Barnwell each worked an inning of scoreless relief in the 6^th and 7^th innings to close out the victory. The win for the Lions came despite a number of defensive miscues, as the Lions booted the ball around, finishing with 5 errors. Lions Head Coach Joel Johnson was pleased with the win, but was unhappy about the high error total: “We haven’t really kicked (the ball) around like that all year. I’m glad we got the win as it was much needed, but we can’t make those same mistakes again. Eventually that kind of play will cost us a win.”

                As the second game began it seemed Johnson’s comment was already proving true as the Lions started the contest with an error which led to a first inning run for the Eagles. Two more Bryan errors in the 3^rd inning allowed Toccoa Falls to push 4 runs across and take an early 5-0 lead. From that point on it seemed the Lions had seen enough, tying the game with 5 runs in the bottom half of the 3^rd. Bryan would plate one more run in the 4^th and plate four more in the 5^th to take the 10-5 lead.

                Lions’ starter Jeremiah Peters set the Eagles down quietly in the 6^th, and it seemed the win was all but locked up, however the Eagles were not done scoring. 2^nd baseman Ryan Henn came on to close out the game in the 7^th, but couldn’t find the strike zone as he walked two batters and hit one to load the bases. Two base hits and a Lions throwing error allowed the Eagles to push 5 runs across and tie the ballgame. Lions’ closer Mark Barnwell came on in relief and continued to struggle with control, as he also walked two and hit a batter before surrendering a 3 run triple. Barnwell failed to retire any of the 4 batters he faced, before giving way to Daniel Bosarge who came on to end the threat.

                After the disastrous top of the 7^th, the Lions couldn’t manage a comeback of their own as they were retired in order to close out the game. Johnson was disappointed in his team’s effort and had no comment after the game. For Bryan, seniors Michael Kent and Brad Starnes led the way offensively, as Kent went 2-for-4 on the night and Starnes added 4 RBIs in the loss. Freshman JD Davis also had 2 RBIs for the Lions.  

The split moves the Lions to 8-11 on the season and the team will look to regroup before hosting Milligan on Saturday in an Appalachian Athletic Conference twin-bill. First Pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM. Game may be moved to Monday afternoon due to potential inclement weather.