After a two-inning rally Thursday night, the Lions were looking to keep the momentum going on Friday. The Lions fought a tough battle on Friday night against the Charlottesville Black Knights but lost by a score of 8-4. Dalton Richardson would get the call for the Black Knights while Michael Barber took the mound for the Lions.
Richardson began the first inning by striking out the side on 17 pitches; holding the Lions hitless until the top of the third inning. Barber would give up a single in the bottom of the first but would record a strikeout to get the first out. Richardson then lined out into a double play to end the inning for the Black Knights.
Barber would give up two singles and a walk to start the bottom of the second; however, courtesy runner Tyler Williams was picked off by the catcher, Jack McDonald, for the first out of the inning. After a hit by pitch, the bases were loaded, but a strikeout would end the threat from the Black Knights. Senior, Owen Agee would begin the Louisa rally in the top of the third inning, drawing a walk and reaching second on a throwing error from Richardson. J.B Lamb followed with a double to left field, scoring Agee.
Charlottesville followed with a rally of their own, drawing back-to-back walks. Marcus Targonski drove a 2 RBI line drive into center field, taking over the lead for the Black Knights. Charlottesville would go on to record two more runs in the inning, giving them a 4-1 lead over the Lions. Louisa would cut the lead in half after an RBI single from junior, Bryce Clarke in the top of the fourth.
Evan Cash would first take the mound for the Lions in the bottom of the fourth allowing one walk. Cash then threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth to hold off the Black Knights. The Lions scored another run in the top of the sixth inning on an error from the second baseman Kason Thomas.
Charlottesville started an even bigger rally of their own in the bottom of the sixth scoring four runs. With a 7-3 Charlottesville lead over the Lions, Caleb Reeves came into the game for relief and would finish the inning for the Lions.
Reeves doubled in the top of the seventh inning scoring another run for the Lions, but it wouldn’t be enough. “We weren’t performing,” said Cash. “There is no reason we should have lost that game.” The Lions are set to play in a JV/Varsity doubleheader this Friday against Orange with JV starting at 4:30. “We’re going to come out ready,” said Barber. “That’s really all we can do.” Let’s Go Lions!
