Bryan News

The Lions hosted the Cavaliers of UVA-Wise on Friday and Saturday for their first conference series of the season. Bryan swept the series, winning both 7-inning games in the doubleheader on Friday and winning the single 9-inning game on Saturday.

In the first game on Friday, the Lions jumped all over the Cavs, defeating them 8-4. Bryan scored 8 runs before Wise scored their 4 runs in the final inning. Pablo Rodriguez led the Lions going 2 for 2 with 3 runs batted in and 1 run scored. Jonathan Davis also went 2 for 2 and scored twice. Josh Harris and Steven Brown each had an RBI as well. Harris' RBI and run scored came off of his homerun. Starting pitcher Adam Polston got the win; he pitched 6.1 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while striking out 5 batters. Polston only gave up 1 hit and 0 runs throughout the first 6 innings. Relief pitcher Josh Smith came and closed out the game, getting the last 2 outs.

In the second game on Friday, the Lions had a battle on their hands as they scored in the bottom of the 7th to win 5-4. Wise scored 3 runs in the first inning. The Lions got 2 back in the 2nd before the Cavs scored another in the 3rd. Bryan scored 2 runs in the 4th to tie the game and then one in the 7th for the win. The Lions had 8 hits for the game coming from 8 different players. Joseph Delrosario, Andrew Smith, and Jordan Day each had an RBI. Starting pitcher Josh Harris pitched all 7 innings, earning the win. He gave up 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 5 batters.

In the 9-inning game on Saturday the Lions got themselves in a big hole before coming back to win 15-13. Bryan found themselves down 11-1 after four and a half innings. The Lions' bats then caught on fire, scoring 2 runs in the 5th, 3 runs in the 6th, 6 runs in the 7th, and 3 runs in the 8th to take a 15-12 lead. Wise scored 1 run in the 9th to make the final 15-13. Josh King went 1 for 1 with a 3-run homerun and tallied 4 runs batted in. His homerun came in the 8th inning to give the Lions the lead and eventual win. Kevin Layne also had a 3-run homerun for 3 RBIs. Steven Brown knocked in two runs while going 3 for 4 from the plate. Shane Clawson went 4 for 5, and Josh Harris went 2 for 3. Wise saw 4 different pitchers throughout the game. Zack Breault came in and pitched the last 3 innings, earning the win.

The Lions are now 10-9 overall and 3-0 in the conference. They play again on Monday in a 9-inning game at Lee University. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00pm ET.