Winfield, Kan. – The Southwestern College Moundbuilders used a four-run seventh inning to upend the Friends University Falcons 8-6 in the series finale today (Mar. 10) in Winfield, Kan. The Falcons swept a doubleheader yesterday to win the series overall.
After his four-hit day yesterday, Nijai Armbrister stayed hot and singled in Ryan Sylvester and then scored on a single by Spencer Davidson to put the Falcons up 2-0 in the first.
The Falcons continued their strong start with a sacrifice fly by Buster Hardman in the second and then got RBI singles by both Melwin Perez and Carlos Rodriguez for a 5-1 lead.
Southwestern then began to chip away with three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to make it a one-run game.
A double steal with Perez scoring and Sylvester stealing second got one of the runs back in the sixth, but the Builders struck for four in the decisive seventh frame.
An RBI single by Logan Gage started the inning before Brice Nittler delivered the big blow of the inning with a three-run homer that proved to be the game-winner.
The Falcons had chances to rally, leaving two runners on in the eighth and then going down in order in the ninth following a leadoff double by Zeke Henson.
Brett Black started for the Falcons and went seven innings, giving up eight runs but just two earned along with five strikeouts. Preston Lewis then struck out the side in a scoreless eighth frame.
Perez and DJ Killion each had two hits for the Falcons.
The Builders got two hits apiece from Gage and Carlos Camacho.
Friends will next be at Evangel University Tuesday (Mar. 12) at noon in Springfield, Mo. before opening up a three-game home KCAC series with Bethany College starting Friday (Mar. 15) at 3 pm at West Side Athletic Field.
