HOUSTON, Texas –
Simms Owens went 2-for-3 with a double, a run batted in and a run scored in Flagler College's 7-5 loss to the University of Central Missouri at the Houston Winter Invitational Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.
Central Missouri improved its record to 1-2 while Flagler is now 0-3.
This was the second game in a row where the Saints scored four runs in the first inning. A pair of walks and a single to right by
Taylor Clapp loaded the bases with nobody out. Two batters later,
Matthew Burke was hit by a pitch to score the first run and the same thing happened to Owens. After a pitching change was made,
Trey Newland belted a two-run single to left to put Flagler up 4-0.
Central Missouri got a run back in the home-half of the first, but a
Coy Phillips double in the third put the Saints up 5-1.
The Mules scored two runs in the fifth inning and then took the lead in the sixth when they scored four runs. Cole Moore hit an RBI single and Brennan van Breusegen followed with a triple to tie the game. The next batter, John Prudhom, hit a home run over the left field wall to give Central Missouri a 7-5 lead. The Saints turned a triple play to end the inning.
Flagler had three baserunners in the final three innings.
Ethan Peterson (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Wyatt Clark followed with two more scoreless innings to pick up the save.
Five Central Missouri hitters finished with two hits.
Dylan Faulkner took the loss on the hill for the Saints. He faced four batters in the sixth inning and allowed three runs on four hits. Flagler used seven different pitchers.
Seth Wysocki started and tossed three innings. He surrendered two hits and an unearned run with four strikeouts.
Flagler has a three-game weekend series at Saint Leo University starting with a single game on Friday at 6 p.m. at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
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