Warriors’ offense comes to life in late innings to secure NAIA win

Bacone earned a first-round win in the only game played in Shawnee on opening day of the NAIA national baseball tournament.

The Warriors erased a 2-0 deficit with five runs in the final three innings and defeated Friends University, 5-2, on Monday.

Bacone (35-18) had only three hits in the first six innings.  And even the first Warriors’ score came without a hit in the seventh inning.

With two out, Friends pitcher Taylor Warkins walked Jean Ortiz, Ryan Wagner and Eric Folkers in consecutive at-bats.  With the bases loaded, BC’s Ronnie Galindo was hit by a pitch scoring the Warriors’ first run.

Peter Rodriguez had an RBI in the eighth inning to tie the game and Wagner’s two-RBI single brought in what proved to be the game winning run.

Jean Carlos Rodriguez knocked in an insurance run in the ninth.

Matt Durbin earned the win for Bacone with six innings of relief work.

The Warriors will take on No. 1 Oklahoma Baptist at Bison Field at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.