MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Lions clawed back from a seven-run deficit to pull within two in the fifth, but a costly eighth-inning home run sealed the Eagles' victory. Bryan College dropped a hard-fought road contest to Faulkner University on Wednesday afternoon, falling 10–5 at Harrison Field in Montgomery. The Lions, now 14–13 on the season and 7–5 in conference play, showed fight but were undone by a five-run Faulkner third inning and a dagger two-run home run in the eighth.
Bryan struck first in the top of the first when
Will Curcio delivered an RBI single to left field, plating
Jayron Morris to put the Lions up 1–0. But the early lead would be short-lived.
Faulkner answered in the second, with Jordan Carter singling home Anthony Bassett Torres to tie the game, then scoring an unearned run on a throwing error to put the Eagles ahead. What followed in the third inning proved decisive.
The Eagles erupted for five runs in the bottom of the third against Bryan reliever
Bryce Liechty, who was charged with all five runs on five hits in just one inning of work. Alex Gonzalez started the rally with an RBI single. Anthony Bassett Torres then turned the knife with a two-run double to right center, pushing the lead to 5–2. Carter capped the inning with a two-RBI single down the left-field line, making it 7–2 Faulkner.
Bryan showed resilience in the fifth inning, engineering a three-run frame to claw back within 7–5.
Denajh Williams singled and
Cade Cook drove him home with an RBI single up the middle. Two more unearned runs scored on a
Logan Stradley fielder's choice when the Faulkner shortstop committed an error, bringing the Lions to within a pair.
But Bryan's offense managed just two more hits over the final four innings against a parade of Faulkner relievers. Grant Blalock was particularly sharp, striking out the side in the seventh, and Collin Rittenberry closed things out with a save, his second of the year.
The knockout blow came in the eighth when Edrien Martínez launched a two-run home run to right field, scoring Jordan Carter — who had reached on another error — to push the lead to 10–5. Bryan went quietly in the ninth, stranding two.
Williams was the offensive bright spot for the Lions, going 3-for-5 with a triple. Curcio drove in two, and Cook added an RBI and a stolen base. Bryan's pitching staff walked seven batters and hit three, which ultimately cost the Lions as Faulkner's lineup capitalized on the free passes throughout.
Bryan will look to bounce back as they head to MIlligan University (RV) for a three game series.
