Lindsborg, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons crossed the plate 25 times in a 25-15 victory over the Bethany College Swedes in the opening game today (Mar. 15) for the program's highest run total since 2007. The second tilt was tied 9-9 in the ninth but was suspended due to darkness. The Falcons have now won seven straight games in the KCAC to move above .500 at 8-7 in the conference and 13-12 overall.
The Swedes took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the first, but the Falcon offense caught fire from there.
Friends plated 11 runs in the second inning and then scored six more in the third.
Zeke Henson had a two-run single and Spencer Davidson doubled home two runs in the 11-run second inning before Isaias Urriola singled in two runs and Davison hit a two-run triple to make it 17-7 in the third.
After the Swedes scored seven unanswered runs to cut the lead to three, the Falcons got right back at it with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Davidson then drove in his fifth run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Bernie Socarras hit a two-run homer in the eighth to put an exclamation point on the massive offensive display.
In addition to Davidson's five RBIs, Henson, Socarras and Urriola each drove in three runs and Miles Hartman had two runs driven in.
Henson and Davidson recorded three hits in five at-bats, while Tyler Godfrey also went 3-of-5 with four runs scored.
Fernando Bones had three RBIs for the Swedes.
Vincent Vigil was the fourth Falcon pitcher and blanked the Swedes over 2.2 innings with a strikeout to be credited with the win.
In the nightcap, the Falcons jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind a three-run double by Hartman in the second. But a two-run double from Alexander Cuevas was followed by a three-run home run from William Sanchez that put the Swedes up 9-7 in the sixth.
Socarras again came through for the Falcons with a two-run double in the seventh to create the 9-9 gridlock.
Francisco Moscoso started game two and lasted four innings with four runs allowed, six strikeouts and five walks.
Game two is scheduled to be finished at a later date.
The Falcons will next go for the series sweep at Evangel University with a single game Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 18) at 3 pm in Springfield, Mo.
