MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Blue Mountain Christian kicked off their biggest SSAC series of the season here Friday, falling 9-5 to No. 11 Faulkner in Game 1 of the three-game set.
Blue Mountain would be looking down the barrel of the top NAIA pitcher in the nation, Marco Ozuna, while countering with dependable lefty Cole Giordano.
The Toppers struck first in the opening inning, as Tyrese Roberson connected on a pitch from Ozuna to lead off the game with a solo homer to right.
Faulkner would break through in the third with three runs, capped by a two-run single down the line from Johnny Lopez.
Roberson would connect again in the fifth, belting his second homer of the game, this time to center to make it 3-2 Faulkner.
The Eagles would get the upper hand in the bottom of the seventh, plating four runs thanks to RBI singles by Lopez and Christian Webb.
In the top of the eighth, Blue Mountain would once again use the long ball, as Will Crawford and Josiah Rivera would both hit solo shots off Faulkner reliever Nicholas Graham.  One more would cross for the Toppers in the inning, as the double steal plated Hayden Redding to make it 7-5.
The Eagles would get a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to secure the series opener over the Toppers.
Giordano (2-2) suffered the loss, tossing 6.1 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits with three Ks.
Roberson led the Toppers with three hits, including the two homers with two RBI and two runs scored.  Crawford chipped in two hits and Hayden Redding added to his nation-leading stolen base total, swiping two on the night.
BMCU (24-15, 9-13 SSAC) returns to Montgomery Saturday to decide the series in a doubleheader with the Eagles at 1 and 4 p.m. CT.


Find us here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram