By Josiah Newport
Sports Editor
Bryan College Baseball is off to a great start this season after finishing the Tennessee Valley Invitational this weekend with a record of 3-1, bringing their season record to 5-1. This matches the their best start to a season since 2005.
After defeating Toccoa Falls College (Ga.) in two straight games to open up the season, the Lions faced Madonna University (Livonia, Mich.) on Friday, in their first game of the Tennessee Valley Invitational. The Lions could not stop the free-scoring Crusaders, giving up five runs over four innings. The final score was 5-3.
Freshman outfielder Blake Johnson hit a two-run homerun in the seventh inning to lead the Lions in hitting.
Sophomore pitcher L.J. Rowden returned to the mound after a year of absence due to injury and led the Lions to victory over the University of Rio Grande (Ohio). He pitched all seven innings, only giving up one run and struck out six.
Senior Josh Harris earned the only RBI of the game after earning a walk when the bases were loaded.
On Saturday the Lions faced Bluefield College (Va.) and defeated them by a score of 5-2.
Sophomore pitcher John Cain earned the win and sophomore pitcher Kenny Knudsen earned his third save of the season.
The Lions’ final game of the weekend, and their best game of the season, came against the #20 ranked team in the nation, Georgetown College (Ky.). The Lions won by a score of 9-2.
Junior pitcher Tristan Speak earned the win, only giving up two runs on six hits. Knudsen came in and got the final two outs of the seventh inning without giving up a hit or a run.
Junior catcher Tyler Latham had a career high six RBIs on two hits, which included a grand slam. The Lions put up the final five runs in the sixth inning to put the game completely out of reach.
Latham ended the weekend with nine RBIs, five hits, and two runs.
The Lions are again in action this Friday at 5 p.m. against Georgia Gwinnett College (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
