Baseball Struggles, Drops Series Opener To Rival Lynn

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Barry University’s baseball team fell to Lynn University Friday afternoon, 5-1, in the series opener between the heated rivals.

Barry (18-20, 10-9) jumped out to an early lead after manufacturing a run in the top of the first inning. Michael Slabach led off the game with a double. After a sacrifice bunt by Luis Arrizurieta that advanced Slabach, Adrian English continued his hot hitting of late with an RBI single through the left side.

Lynn wasted little time in answering, plating a run in first as well on an RBI single to right off the bat of Anthony Boza to even the score.

Kevin Youst found himself once again in a pitcher’s duel, this time versus Lynn’s Shawn Kale. After each allowing a run in the first inning, Youst and Kale traded zeros on the scoreboard for the next four innings.

Kale struck out at least two batters in each of the first four innings, while Youst continued to battle the No. 9 nationally ranked Fighting Knights too keep the game even at one.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Knights were able to get to Youst, capitalizing on two costly errors. The four run frame gave Lynn a 5-1 lead and that proved to be the difference in the game.

Barry amassed seven hits in the game, but didn’t mount much of a scoring threat after the first inning.

Youst (1-4) pitched five and two thirds allowing five runs, three earned, and struck out four.

Barry’s offensive struggles continued and Kale’s career-high 12 strikeout performance didn’t help the Buccaneer’s cause. Adrian English finished the game going 2-for-3 with the Buccaneers’ lone RBI. Five other Buccaneers chipped in hits in the effort.

Saturday, the Bucs will look to bounce back with a pair of games at McCusker Sports Complex to wrap up the three game set.

Live-stat and audio broadcast will be available through the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.

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