Friends Athletics
Levi Convirs, Sports Information Director
FORT WORTH, Texas. – The Friends University Falcons captured their first win of the 2019 season by splitting with the Texas College Steers today (Jan. 26) at Sycamore Park at Texas Wesleyan University in Ft. Worth, Texas.
The Falcons started the day with an 8-6 victory in the opener behind three RBIs from Isiah Perez (JR/Larned, Kan. ) and four solid innings on the mound by Luke Royle (SO/Dodge City, Kan. ).
Trailing 2-0, Perez quickly changed that by doubling in three runs to put the Falcons on top.
After the Steers plated the tying run in the fourth, the Falcons struck in the sixth inning as Emilio Navarro (SR/Porterville, Calif. ) capped a three-run frame with a two-run double. Navarro’s big hit followed a go-ahead sacrifice fly by Troy Puga (JR/Pueblo, Colo.) that scored Jace Snodgrass (SR/Derby, Kan.).
Bobby Stewart (JR/Naples, Fla. ) singled home an insurance run in a two-run seventh inning that the Falcons would need as the Steers made things interesting with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
With the tying runs on and potential winning run at the plate, Perez came on and recorded the final out to pick up the save and close out the win for the Falcons.
Perez, Navarro and Stewart each had two hits to help the Falcons outhit the Steers 9-7.
Royle struck out six and allowed two earned runs over his four innings of work.
Jo Del Orbe Martinez went two-of-four and drove in two runs in the opening game for Texas College.
The Steers rebounded to win the nightcap 10-5, using a four-run second inning to take the lead for good.
Prior to the Steers’ big second inning, Puga doubled home Gabriel Corona (JR/Fresno, Calif. ) and scored on a two-run blast by Navarro that gave the Falcons a brief 3-1 lead.
The Steers then tacked on two more runs in the fourth on a two-run homer by Hunter Babineaux before breaking the game open with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
Perez then doubled home Ricardo Paris (JR/Barquisimeto, Valenzuela) in the sixth for one of his team-leading three hits in the second game.
Puga and Navarro also had two hits in the nightcap for Friends (1-3).
RJ Gaines (SR/Mansfield, Ark. ) started for the Falcons and went 4.1 innings, allowing six earned runs and striking out six. Friends also received 1.2 scoreless innings of relief and two strikeouts from Landon Aggas (FR/Trophy Club, Texas).
The Falcons will next be in action next weekend for a three-game series at No. 25-ranked LSU-Shreveport, starting with a single game Friday afternoon (Feb. 1) at 4 pm in Shreveport, La.