[Baseball] Spires Outlast Baseball Falcons in 16 Innings

WICHITA, Kan. – In a game that lasted 16 innings and 4:25, the University of Saint Mary Spires pulled out an 8-7 win over the Friends University Falcons to salvage a game in the series finale today (Apr. 13) at Westurban Baseball Complex in Wichita. The Falcons swept the doubleheader yesterday to win the series.

An RBI single by Gilbert Rondon helped the Spires breakthrough in the 16th for the game-winning tally.

In the bottom of the 16th, Sergio Valenzuela retired the Falcons in order to finish his 7.2 scoreless frames of relief to get the win.

Trailing 7-5 after seven, Jace Snodgrass (SR/Derby, Kan.) hit an infield single to chase home pinch runner John Coogan (FR/Broomfield, Colo.) to bring the Falcons within one, but a diving stop by shortstop Brayden Carr kept the potential tying run from scoring.

The Falcons were then able to tie it by taking advantage of a pair of errors in the bottom of the ninth.

Snodgrass led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored the game's first run on a double by Emilio Navarro (SR/Porterville, Calif. ). Corona then singled home Navarro to give the Falcons an early two run lead.

After an RBI double by Daunte Freeman helped the Spires jump on top with three in the third, Troy Puga (JR/Pueblo, Colo.) made sure the Falcons didn't trail for long and doubled home Dauson Tate (JR/Pueblo, Colo.) and Navarro to put the Falcons back in front.

Starter Tony Caporrimo (SO/Litchfield Park, Ariz.) then got in a groove and retired the Spires in order three consecutive innings and the Falcons added to their lead when Tate scored on a two-out single by Ricardo Paris (JR/Barquisimeto, Valenzuela) in the fifth to make it 5-3.

The Spires though fought back with a solo homer by Daniel Gonzalez in the seventh and then plated three runs in the eighth, including a successful sacrifice squeeze bunt by Gonzalez that plated the go-ahead run.

The Falcons pounded out 22 hits on the day, tied for their most since the 2016 season, also against Saint Mary (4-17-16). Snodgrass, Tate, Navarro and Paris had three hits apiece to lead Friends, with Puga, Gabriel Corona (JR/Fresno, Calif. ), Lucas Quimby (JR/Pueblo, Colo. ) and Luke Royle (SO/Dodge City, Kan. ) each contributing a pair of hits.

Caporrimo went seven innings in his second career start, allowing five earned runs with three strikeouts.

RJ Gaines (SR/Mansfield, Ark. ) kept the Falcons alive in extra innings with a superb relief outing, blanking the Spires and striking out three during his seven innings of work. Matt Contreras (JR/Friant, Calif. ) also had one scoreless inning out of the bullpen.

Valenzuela struck out six Falcons over his 7.2 scoreless innings.

The Falcons will next host the series finale vs. Kansas Wesleyan University in a makeup game Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 16) at 3 pm.