The Lions were no match for the Western Albemarle Warriors’ hot offense Tuesday night. The Warriors collected 10 hits on the night, two of those hits home runs. Zachary Mallia took the mound for the Warriors while Garrett Duerson got the start for the Lions.
Mallia got off to a strong start in the top of the first inning facing the minimum number of batters. After a double play to start the bottom of the first, Mallia gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead on a deep home run to center field.Logan Fifer recorded his first hit of the night with a leadoff single to center field in the top of the second. Fifer was caught stealing second, keeping the Lions behind the Warriors.
The Warriors knocked back-to-back two-out singles in the bottom of the second, but Duerson was able to record the third out and end the Warriors’ threat. Travis Pleasants drove a one-out single to center field to start the third inning, but the Lions failed to bring in a run. Wyatt Hull started the bottom of the third with a single, but was picked off on a tremendous diving tag from Michael Barber.
Fifer knocked his second hit of the game with a double to center field in the top of the fourth. The Lions recorded three outs and the inning was over. Duerson struggled in the bottom of the fourth inning giving up a leadoff double to Trevor Vernon. Landon Abrahamson followed with a homer to left field giving the Warriors a 3-0 lead over the Lions. Western recorded 5 hits in the inning taking a 7-0 lead over the Lions in the fourth.
Owen Agee drew a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Pleasants, cutting the Warriors lead to 7-1. After a walk and error, Garrett Duerson knocked a two run triple to right field, giving the Lions their third run.
Agee came in to pitch for the Lions in the bottom of the fifth allowing just one run and one hit. The Lions fell to Western Albemarle by a final score of 3-8 and fall 2-8 on the regular season with the loss. Duerson finished the night with 9 hits and seven earned runs. The Lions collected four hits on the night, but struck out a total of eight times. The Lions are set to face Powhatan on Thursday night, hoping to redeem themselves from their last outing. Let’s Go Lions!
