Wichita, Kan. - Friends University baseball opened up a series with Avila University on Friday (Apr. 3). It would feature a doubleheader because of the impending rainy weather on Saturday. Friends would take both games in the doubleheader, which featured a walk-off 3-run home run in game two.

Game 1

The Falcons would throw Brett Black on the bump to start this game. Black did not disappoint in his outing in his 7th appearance of the season. Black would shove a brilliant eight innings for the Falcons while striking out four and allowing one earned run.   

In the bottom of the 1st Friends got out to an early 1-0 lead due to a Bernie Socarras' solo shot. Socarras is the team leader in batting average (.385) and this would be his 1st of two home runs on the day.

The Falcons offense kept their bats moving as they did on Tuesday against Oklahoma City. In the bottom of the 2nd they would have a seven run inning as well with seven hits. Miles Hartman hit a 2-RBI single to center field to score Holden Sabor and Hudson Sharp. Camden Miller would follow up with an RBI single to right to score Hartman. Bernie Socarras came up with an RBI double to score Miller and Elijah Morales would round off the scoring with a sac fly. 

The Falcons would grow their lead to eight just after two innings of play. Both clubs would put up blank numbers in the 3rd and 4th frames. 

In the 5th, Avila would score their only run of the game due to a balk. The Falcons would answer back in the bottom half with Drew Lykes' triple that scored Sabor. 

Holden Sabor would get an RBI in the bottom of the 6th to make the score 10-1. 

Miles Stringer would come in for an appearance in the 9th to close out the game. Stringer would strike out two Avila batters and the Falcons would win game one 10-1. 

Game 2

In the 2nd game of the doubleheader the Eagles would jump out in front of the Falcons early in the 1st inning. Avila would score seven runs in the 1st off of five hits. Dylan Altherton would hit a 2-RBI double to give the Eagles some confidence from what was a poor hitting performance in game one. JJ Stubblefield would hit a 2-run home run for Avila to put the Eagles up 7-0 after one half inning. 

Friends chipped away at the lead grabbing one run from a Hudson Sharp single that scored Miller in the bottom half. 

In the top of the 2nd Avila's Caden Stillwell hit a solo home run to bring the Eagle lead back up to seven. Friends continued to not go away as Bernie Socarras would add to his banner day with a 3-RBI double bringing the score to 8-4 Avila.

Tommy English of the Eagles would hit a 2-RBI single in the top of the 3rd to bring Avila up to double digit runs. Avila would lead after three innings up 10-4.

In innings four and five both sides were shut down, not being able to get a run across. In a seven inning game the end was coming close for the Falcons. 

This Falcons team however, did not quit in game two. Xavier Champ would grab an RBI grounding out after Drew Lykes tripled for the 2nd time today. Hudson Sharp hit a 2-RBI single to cap off a three run 6th for the Falcons, inching them closer for a comeback with Avila leading 10-7.

The 7th inning would mount a phenomenal comeback for the Falcons. The first two batters for the Falcons would get out and the comeback looked bleak. Noah Gagol would pinch hit and reach on an error, Xavier Champ would come into run.

Miles Hartman would single to advance Champ to third. Camden Miller would also reach on an error to score Champ, bringing the score to 10-8 in favor of Avila. With two runners on this would then bring up Bernie Socarras, who had a home run in game one would look to capitalize on the Avila errors. Socarras would hit an absolute no doubter into right field to walk it off and win the Falcons the game! In the most improbable way possible with two outs, the Falcons would comeback after being down six runs.

The Falcons would win game two with a 11-10 score and sweep the doubleheader. Friends also clinched the series with this walk-off win. 

Bernie Socarras, who was red hot for both games, would go 6/9 on the day with two home runs and drive in eight Falcons. Socarras, who has played in every Falcons game this season (38), leads the Falcons in total bases this season with 78. 

The Falcons (20-18) KCAC (14-10) will look to sweep tomorrow against Avila in a solo bout. The game will start at noon on Saturday (Apr. 4) at West Side Athletic Field.