WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons clinched another series victory with a doubleheader split against the University of Saint Mary Spires on Senior Day today (Apr. 12) at Westside Athletic Field. The Falcons blasted the Spires 10-2 in the first game but were nipped in the nightcap 3-2.
With the opening game tied 2-2, Nijai Armbrister doubled home two runs to put the Falcons up for good and they just added on from that point.
Now leading 6-2, seniors Ricky Toussaint and Ryan Sylvester delivered for the Falcons. Toussaint hit his first career triple to drive in two runs and Sylvester singled home two more to put a nice cap on the victory for Friends.
The Falcons got two hits and a pair of RBIs from Rodriguez, while Niquan Benjamin and Bernie Socarras also had two hits.
After facing heaving traffic on the bases and allowing seven hits in the first three innings, Francisco Moscoso settled into a nice groove and held the Spires without a hit for his final four frames. He finished with nine strikeouts and walked just two. Gonzolo Armas then closed out the win with two hitless innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Eli Prine, Daniel Martinez and Bryant Banks each had two hits in the first game for Saint Mary.
The nightcap saw Nicholas Salgado blank the Falcons through the first four innings until running into trouble in the fifth. But Salgado got consecutive strikeouts and then a groundout to escape a bases loaded, no outs jam to keep Saint Mary on top 3-0.
Friends got on the board in the sixth and made it a one-run game when Zeke Henson drew a bases loaded walk, but again stranded the bases loaded when reliever Jacob Castaneda got a strikeout to end the inning.
Castaneda then worked around a two-out walk to Melwin Perez in the seventh to finish the win and earn the save. Salgado gave up two earned runs and struck out three with six walks through 5.2 innings to get the win.
Miles Hartman had a team-leading two hits for the Falcons in the second game. Matthew Benton started and went five innings with three runs allowed and three strikeouts with no walks. Vincent Vigil and Chance Baker then followed Benton with a scoreless inning each.
Maverick Rockers put the Spires on top with an RBI single in the second and Martinez doubled in a run in the fifth for Saint Mary's third run.
The Spires had 10 hits, let by two hits each from Prine, Martinez, Rockers and Adam Celestino.
Friends will next finish the season series at No. 19-ranked Ottawa University Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 15) at 1 pm. The Falcons will be going for the sweep of the Braves after winning the first two games, one on the road and one in Wichita.
