The Eagles rallied for five runs in the bottom of the ninth, but they needed six in TBC Eagles Baseball's series opener with the Bruins of South Region rival Bob Jones University. The tying and winning runs were on base with two outs, but a fly ball ended it, and BJU held on for the 7-6 win.

In that big ninth inning, the first five men all reached and scored. Logan McGann started the rally with a base hit, and Gavin Williams walked. When David Hickey took a pitch off the arm, the bases were loaded with nobody out.

Jordan Fernandez followed with a two-run single to right to drive in Burke and Williams, and Colin Sepulveda doubled off the left-field fence to bring in Hickey and Fernandez. At that point, the score was 7-5.

One out later, Ryan Onkst pinch hit and lined a double to center to score Sepulveda. Seth Reeves reentered at second representing the tying run.

With two outs, Burke took a pitch off his body to put the potential winning run on base. However, a fly ball landed in right fielder Kyle Prouse's glove to end the rally and the game.

Trinity scored in the first when Williams singled home McGann after McGann's one-out triple. BJU answered with a two-run home run from Isiah Brandt in the top of the second.

Bob Jones scored four times in the third (2 earned, 2 unearned) with three separate hits (triple, two singles). The score remained 6-1 until the ninth when the Bruins added an extra run that turned out most important when Sam Gonzalez (double) scored from second on a wild pitch.

Jacob Brigman was stellar in relief. Brigman worked 6.1 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits; he walked 2 and struck out 9.

BJU's Henry Wallach pitched a complete game. He got tremendous help from his defense, particularly center fielder Evan Walker, who ran down several balls in the gaps and threw out a runner at third. Wallach allowed only 1 run through eight before the Eagles rallied in the ninth.

[Eagles and Bruins honor America before Friday night's game.]

The two teams will play a double-header on Saturday beginning at 12:00 noon EDT. The Eagles will then host NAIA Ave Maria University for two at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Aprill 22. The regular season ends with back-to-back double-headers at the South Region's Toccoa Falls College on April 26 and 27.