The Lindenwood Lions baseball team ended a four-game weekend series in Montgomery, Ala.with a loss to Faulkner University 7-6 in extra innings
Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard in the first three innings, but finally in the bottom of the fourth Faulkner brought across one run on two hits. Faulkner added another tally in the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead into the sixth.
Finally, in the top of the sixth the Lions offense erupted. Adam Peacock started the inning with a strikeout, followed by a Mario Parra single. With a runner on first and one out, Mike Moore flew out to right field. Even with two outs the Lions did not go down quietly.
The rally started with Shelby Anderson drawing a walk and Crispin Tarango singling. The Lions had the bases loaded when Carlos Piannetta was hit by a pitch to bring across the first run of the inning. Next up, was Steve Massie, who singled in a pair of runs, to give the Lions their first lead of the game. Still with two outs Lindenwood had runners at second and third, and Zach Loraine cleared the bases with a two out triple. The inning finally came to a close with the Lions scoring five runs on four hits.
Even though the Lions just finished a huge inning, Faulkner did not go away. Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth, they tallied two runs to cut the lead back to one.
Lindenwood still held the lead heading into the final frame, but was unable to add any insurance runs in the top of the seventh. The Lions brought in closer, Jeff Wilkins, to shut the door, but Faulkner had better ideas.
The inning started with Daniel Clayton flying out to leftfield. Wilkins walked Kenny Miramontes and then moved him to second via a balk. The tying run was now at second with one out. Daniel Cayton singled, which advanced the tying run to just 90 feet away.
The Lions elected to intentionally walk Justin Jones to load the bases with just one out. Faulkner tied the game after Wilkins walked Parker. Wilkins did limit the damage, striking out Kevin Villareal and forcing Tucker Willard to ground out. Faulkner scored one run on just one hit to tie the game.
For the first time in the 2011 season the Lions headed into extra innings. In the top of the eighth the Lions scored one run on a Massie homerun.
Once again, the Lions would try and shut the door on Faulkner. This time it was Kyle Little to try and save the game for Lindenwood. Jonathan Gober led off the inning grounding out to second. John Gunnels singled with one out, then the biggest hit of the game came. Clayton deposited a Little pitch over the fence to give Faulkner the 7-6 win.
Massie led the way for the Lions going two for four at the plate with a homerun and three RBIs. Loraine also chipped in with two hits and two RBIs. Ryan Griffin started the game on the hill throwing 4 2/3 innings, giving up tow runs on five hits, and struck out six.
Next up for the Lions is games against LSU-Shreveport and Oklahoma City.
