MELBOURNE, Fla. – Barry University’s baseball team played deep into the night, and picked back up on Tuesday afternoon, winning an extra innings affair, 3-2, against conference foe Florida Tech.
With no chance to advance into postseason play, the Bucs took on the role of spoiler. Florida Tech needed to sweep the Bucs and hope for a little help from others in order to sneak into the South Region Tournament.
After thunderstorms delayed the start of the game, the Bucs and Panthers began their final series of the season at 8:35 p.m., under the lights. Kevin Youst took the mound for the Bucs, who were playing their first game in over a week.
In his last outing, Youst tossed his first career complete game shutout in a win over Palm Beach Atlantic at Feinbloom Field.
Youst picked up where he left off with another solid performance as he scattered seven hits in six and two-thirds innings of work. The Bucs (21-22, 11-9 SSC) jumped out to an early lead, scoring runs in the second and again in the fifth.
Bouncing back with a run of their own in the sixth inning, the Panthers (26-21, 11-10) threatened in the seventh after Youst got into a little bit of trouble. The right-hander hit K.C. Clabough with the bases loaded to tie the game at 2, and Calvin Rayburn relieved Youst, retiring the following hitter to end the threat.
With runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the ninth, play was suspended after the rain picked up. Play resumed Tuesday at noon, tied at 2 and Bryant Elliott stepping into the batter's box.
James Mannara struck out Elliott, and the Bucs were unable to push a run across.
Senior T.J. Mullins took the mound in the bottom of the ninth, and after running into some trouble, was able to induce a groundball double play to avoid any damage.
James Young started the Bucs’ rally in the 10th with a double to left. Luis Arrizurieta followed with a sacrifice bunt that advanced pinch runner Sheehan Planas-Arteaga to third.
Harold Holness stepped in and delivered with a liner back up the box to plate Planas-Arteaga, giving the Bucs the 3-2 lead.
Mullins (4-4) worked a perfect 10th to earn the win. Adrian English and Michael Slabach each chipped in a pair of hits in the winning effort.