Lions Rally To Beat The Master’s College in Season Opener
The Lions scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning Friday afternoon to rally past The Master’s College 3-2 in the season opener for both teams on Reese Field.
Down 2-1 entering what appeared to be their final at-bat, the Lions fashioned a pair of runs out of three walks, a single, and an error. The final free pass of the inning, issued by Master’s reliever Tom Gilbertson, came with the bases loaded and forced in what turned out be the winning run.
Both runs and the loss were pegged on freshman reliever Tommy Kister who did just enough in 2 2/3 innings of work to keep the Lions at bay until the fateful ninth.
Pitching dominated the first three frames as both starters, TMC’s Tyler Bersano and the Lions’s Isaac Duran (left), rolled out zeroes.
But, that changed in the fourth when the Lions dented the scoreboard on a leadoff double by Denis O’Connor (right top) and a single from David Whiteside (right bottom).
Duran’s shutout lasted through the fourth inning but in the fifth, TMC finally broke through. With one out, senior Parker Price doubled to right field and junior transfer Tanner Leighton singled him home. Eventually, Leighton stole third but was stranded there.
Duran finished his day in the seventh when freshman Cody Harris led off with a single to left-center field, advanced to second base on pinch-hitter Bryan Mitchell’s sacrifice bunt, went to third on Price’s groundout, and trotted home on Leighton’s clutch single up the middle. He gave way to the Lions bullpen, in the form of one, Tommy Papucci, who came in to shut the door, and the hopes, of a comeback win for TMC. Papucci pitched a flawless 2 1/3 innings, facing only seven (7) batters, striking out one, and giving up no runs, hits, or walks, while picking up the first win of the season for the Lions.
After the Lions went ahead in the top of the ninth, the Mustangs went quietly in the bottom of the frame. The Master’s College host the Lions in a Saturday doubleheader. The opener is set for an 11:00am start.