WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons split a doubleheader today with the Northwestern College (Iowa) Raiders, and that's all they needed to do win the weekend series today (Feb. 8) at West Side Athletic Field.

In the first inning of a wild opener, Friends secured an early lead with a two-run single by Isaias Urriola, bringing home Zeke Henson and Nijai Armbrister, who had both been hit by pitches. This quick response followed Northwestern's first run, putting the Falcons up 2-1.

In the second inning, the Falcons extended their lead to 3-1. Dominic Arellano's bunt single got things going and Miles Hartman's single to the pitcher allowed Arellano to cross the plate.

In the top of the third, the Raiders took the lead when Ranier Castillo doubled in three runs and scored on a single by Brody Ayers.

The Falcons responded in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer from Carlos Rodriguez, bringing Bryson Rigsby home after his single and stolen base to bring the Falcons within 6-5.

After Northwestern scored two more runs to lead by three, Friends charged back again as an RBI double by Spencer Davidson plated Urriola to cap a three-run fifth to tie the score at 8-8.

But the Raiders scored two runs in the ninth to regain the lead.

The Falcons didn't go quietly and cut the lead in half on a two-out RBI single by Bernie Socarras that scored Tyler Godfrey.  But Nick Albro got a fly out to end the threat and close out the win for the Raiders.

Francisco Moscoso pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits, with six strikeouts and two walks. Jackson Walls made a brief appearance, recording one out with a ground ball and Chance Baker pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two and not allowing a hit, maintaining a clean performance.

Urriola had three RBIs in the opening tilt for the Falcons and Castillo drove in four runs for Northwestern.

The nightcap had a much different outcome, with the Falcons jumping all over the Raiders with a team cycle in the first inning. The six-run frame featured a three-run homer by Godfrey, an RBI triple by Melwin Perez, an RBI double by Rigsby and a run-scoring by Armbrister that started the scoring.

Two-run singles by both Urriola in the second and Armbrister in the fifth continued to break the open before Davidson put a bow on the offensive explosion with a single that scored Tarek Toussaint in the sixth.

Godfrey had four RBIs and Armbrister drove in three for the Falcons, who improve to 5-4 on the season. Rigsby went 3-of-3, while Hartman and Urriola each had two hits in the second game victory.

Jaime Baldwin was outstanding in picking up his first career win for the Falcons, going six innings with just one run allowed and striking out five batters. Vincent Vigil then pitched a scoreless seventh frame and struck out one.

The Falcons are next scheduled to play at (RV) University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 11) at 1 pm in Chickasha, Okla.