Nine innings wasn't enough as the Bob Jones University Bruins and Paine College Lions went into extra innings Friday night from Conestee Park. After 10 innings of back and forth play, the Bruins fell in a 12-10 final decision to the Lions. With today's loss, the Bruins now sit at 5-18 on the year.

"We've been working hard and we've seen a lot of growth. Our biggest hang up is we've lost so much, and it's hard to get them out of that mentality and believing that they can win," said Head Coach Brent Casteel. "So when they really get the idea that they can come out and they can bring it, and they can make it happen,  without having to sit there and hope that it's going to happen, they have the ability to get it done. They can play the game. So when we get to that point, and we get a few more wins under our belt, and they get to the point where they decide to go up there and really drive and make it happen, they're going to see that we can get this done."

Henry Wallach got the nod on the mound as today's game got underway. The Lions recorded the first run of the game as they went up 1-0 early in the first inning of the weekend. They tallied three more runs in the top of the second to put a 4-0 lead over the Bruins. 

The Bruins were down, but they were not out. Pablo Austin walked to open the bottom of the second. The bases were loaded on walks by Sam Gonzalez and Chad Bayne as Zay Brandt made his way to the plate. With the 2-0 count, Brandt swung and hit along the third base line for a 2 RBI double to put the Bruins on the board. Riley Ramsey evened the score as he hit the ball towards second base giving Bayne and Brandt the chance to race across home plate. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Kam Lance sailed the ball over the head of the Lions shortstop as Evan Walker turned on the jets as he ran from second to home giving BJU the 5-4 advantage. 

The Bruins held onto the lead until the top of the sixth where Paine College evened the score once again. 

After the Lions took the 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh, the Bruins responded with three runs scored in the bottom of the seventh with RBI's by Lance, Austin, and Kirkpatrick.

Ramsey added another run to the total as he ripped one over the fence for a solo home run.

Once again the Lions countered with a home run of their own sending two runners across home plate to knot the score up at nine runs each in the top of the ninth inning. 

The Bruins looked for a walk off winner in the bottom of the ninth, but the Lions didn't allow much action as the two teams prepared to head into extra innings.

Paine College recorded three runs in the top of the tenth to go ahead 12-9. With two outs in the bottom of the tenth, Evan Walker and Conley Burk both walked putting a little bit of life back into the Bruins. Kam Lance singled on his first pitch sending Walker racing to home putting another run on the board for the Bruins. A chopper by Austin went right towards second base for the final out of the contest as the Bruins fell to the Lions in a final decision of 12-10.

"I'm looking for fantastic stuff tomorrow," said Casteel. "I think that they have had enough of this, and we know we can beat this team. When we start looking and knowing that we can, that's going to make the difference."

The two programs are back in action on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m. from Conestee Park.



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