WICHITA, Kan. -- The Friends University Falcons split a pair of games today (Mar. 28) to win the KCAC weekend series over the Tabor College Bluejays at Westside Athletic Field. The Bluejays won the first 5-4 before the Falcons took the rubber game 5-2. Friends is now 17-18 overall and in fourth place in the KCAC with a 12-10 conference record.
In the third inning of the nightcap, the Falcons capitalized on a pair of Tabor's defensive errors to score five times. The decisive inning was capped by RBI singles from both
Holden Sabor and
Noah Gagol that resulted in a 5-1 Falcon lead.
That's all the offense the Falcons would need behind strong pitching performances from starter
Raleigh Clark and reliever
Seve Sissac. All the Bluejays could muster from that point was an RBI single by Cole Schieffer in the seventh.
Clark delivered five innings of work, allowing just one earned run and striking out five to secure the victory. Sissac then struck out three and gave up one run in two innings of relief.
Danny Zepeda had two hits in the second game for the Bluejays.
Tabor took an early lead in the first inning of the opening tilt with Schieffer scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jared Mack. In the second inning, The Bluejays then extended their lead to 2-0 as Jack Kiser scored on an RBI single by Ethan Crawford.
The Falcons got on the board in the third inning when
Miles Hartman singled and advanced to second on
Camden Miller's sacrifice bunt before scoring on a single by
Elijah Morales.
Tabor added another run in the fifth inning when Trace Kopper scored on an Easton Norris single to extend the lead to 3-1. The Falcons responded in the sixth inning.
Bernie Socarras walked, and consecutive hits by Morales and Sabor brought home Socarras and Morales to tie the game at 3-3.
In the seventh inning Kopper scored on a single by Norris to put the Bluejays back on top.
The ninth inning saw the Bluejays widen their lead when pinch runner Robert Diaz scored on a double by Schieffer. The Falcons made a final push in the bottom of the ninth as
Drew Lykes doubled and scored on Hartman's bunt single, but the rally fell short when Tabor starting pitcher Logan McGuire got a fly out to strand two runners and finish the win.
Socarras reached base three times with two hits and a walk in the first game for the Falcons (17-18, 12-10 KCAC), with Hartman, Morales and Sabor also each recording two hits.
Jackson Walls started for the Falcons and lasted five innings with three strikeouts, two walks and three runs allowed.
Norris collected three hits and drove in two runs to pace the Bluejays (17-20, 13-12 KCAC). On the mound, McGuire delivered a complete game win, pitching nine innings and striking out five with four runs allowed.
The Falcons will next be at Oklahoma City University on Tuesday (Mar. 31) at 3 pm before returning home for a home weekend series vs. Avila University starting Friday (Apr. 3) at 4 pm.
