Daytona, FL- The Saints traveled to Daytona in a matchup against Daytona State College on Thursday. Though it was a very competitive and high-scoring game, the Saints would fall on the final play of the game. Xavier Lopez hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to secure the win for the Falcons.  

How It Happened 

Wyatt Campbell started things out on the mound for the Saints. He recorded nine strikeouts and only two walks.  

Drake Harman helped the Saints put up the first run after he hit a groundout RBI to score AJ Barrios from third base in the second inning.  Mason McManus hit a hard ground ball to the right fielder and scored both Anthony Fimiano and Cory Filley making the score 3-0 Saints. 

The Saints' defense turned it up a notch in the bottom of the second as they forced the Falcons to go three and out. Wyatt Campbell struck out two of the three batters and the other out came from a foul tip. 

The Falcons' offense began to awaken in the third inning as Xavier Lopez hit a hard grounder to right field and scored two Daytona players: Adam Parzych and Jaxon Junilla. On the next at bat, the Falcons were able to score again on a fielder's choice and tie the game 3-3. 

Griffin Sorrow homered over the left field wall to put the Saints back ahead in the fourth inning.

The Falcons then went on a 4-0 run all the way into the eighth inning until the Saints' bats began to wake up again in the ninth inning. Wyatt Campbell and AJ Barrios started the inning out with RBIs. Cory Filley stepped up big to hit a two-run homer. The Saints scored a much needed five runs, putting them up 9-7. However, Xavier Lopez dashed all hopes when he hit a walk-off grand slam after the score was already knotted at 9-9. The final score for this matchup was 13-9 Falcons.  

Quote From Coach Wiggs

"It was a typical dogfight type of game going back and forth. Our hitters did a great job in the ninth inning scoring five runs and giving us the lead. Not having our closer, Colby Rice tonight of course hurt us, but I have to do a better job with our pitchers. We will work hard to bounce back on Saturday to try and win the series."

Up Next

The Saints will play in a doubleheader at home on Saturday against Daytona to finish the series. The first pitch is set for 12PM EST.