GREENWOOD, S.C.—Barry University’s baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader versus Lander on Saturday, losing the night cap in heartbreak fashion.
Game One
The Bucs (3-5) dropped the first game of the doubleheader 10-5 at the hands of Lander, falling behind early in the game and were never able to catch up.
Senior lefthander Corey Witkowski struggled in his second start of the season. The Bearcats (7-4) tagged Witkowski with four runs in the first inning, and knocked him out of the game with another run in the third.
Josh James made his first career appearance in relief of Witkowski but was unable to slow the Bearcats bats down as he also gave up four runs in the fourth inning.
Both teams would trade zeros in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. In the top of the eighth inning Tim Blackmon doubled to deep left-center field and Barry loaded the bases to no avail.
Barry made a late charge, tacking on three runs in the ninth but fell 10-5 in game one of the doubleheader. Witkowski (0-2) earned the loss going just two and a third, allowing five runs and striking out two.
Alex Decker worked two and a third scoreless innings and Matthew Garlock allowed just one run in two innings of work.
Offensively Barry was led by Tim Blackmon who went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Michael Slabach and Lyndon Coleman each had two hits in the game as well.
Chris Thomas earned the win going six innings allowing one unearned run. Barry left 13 runners on base, and struggled offensively for most of the game with the exception of the late rally in the ninth inning.
Jordan Owens finished 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Bearcats.
Game Two
Kevin Youst took the mound for the Bucs in an attempt to end the three game skid. Like in game one, the Bucs squandered early opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in the top of the third.
The Bearcats jumped out in front in the bottom of the frame with a two out RBI triple by Ian Harvey that put them up 2-0.
Sam Halpern answered for the Bucs with his first home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.
However, Lander wasted no time in getting the run back when Kevin Starr homered to right in the bottom of the inning making it a 3-1 lead.
Barry cut the deficit to one after a James Young RBI single in the fifth, and tied the game at three on a clutch two-out single by the freshman Sheehan Planas in the seventh.
Juan Montana reached to leadoff the bottom of the ninth for the Bearcats on an error, and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Colby Painter. Mullins was then called for a balk, advancing the runner with just one out.
Montana was caught in a rundown between home and third on a play at the plate, but was ruled safe by the field umpire giving Lander runners on the corners with just one out. An out that would prove costly for the Bucs as the next hitter, A.J. Nunziato, drove a ball over the head of Slabach in deep center for the walk-off victory.
Youst went six inning allowing three runs on four hits and striking out three. Mullins earned the loss in two and a third innings of work allowing just the one un-earned run in the ninth and striking out two.
Lyndon Coleman, Sheehan Planas and Adrian English each had two hits for the Bucs. Sam Halpern also had two hits including a triple and a homerun.
The Bucs will return to action this Tuesday when they host Florida Tech University in non-conference regional matchup at Feinbloom Field.
Live-stat and audio broadcast coverage will be available through the Barry University athletic website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM, with first pitch set for 6:00 p.m.