AMERICUS - A three-run first inning and a two-run ninth helped the Barry University baseball team escape with a 6-5 victory over Georgia Southwestern on Sunday afternoon at Hurricane Stadium.
Barry rallied late in both of their victories over the Hurricanes to take the weekend series, 2-1. In the two wins, six of Barry's 10 runs came in the eighth and ninth innings.
On Sunday, the 16th-ranked Buccaneers (2-1) posted three runs in the opening frame behind an RBI double from Sheehan Planas, a GSW fielding error and a solo home run from Bryant Elliott.
After Barry added a run in the top of the third, it was GSW's turn to make a surge. The Hurricanes scored three runs off of two hit batters, a two-run single from Michel Coffey and a wild pitch. Coffey used some heads up running to advance from first to third on a passed ball, setting up the score from third on a wild pitch moments later.
The Hurricanes tied the game in the fourth when Corey Benson scored from third on a Jarrod Taylor ground out to the shortstop.
After being retired in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, Blane Parker broke the 4-4 tie in the eighth with his first home run as a Hurricane, a leadoff shot down the left-field line.
Barry capitalized on three walks in the top of the ninth inning. Adrian English drove in a run with an RBI single and the go-ahead run crossed the plate when GSW was unable to turn a double play on a Lyndon Coleman ground ball to the shortstop.
GSW was retired in order in the bottom half of the ninth.
Gray Carden (0-1) allowed two runs in one inning of work to take the loss for GSW. Starter Frank Ambrosino pitched three innings, allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out one. Matthew Suggs pitched five scoreless innings of relief and struck out four.
GSW lefties fared well against Barry in the series as Suggs and Matt Weaver, Saturday's Game 2 starter, combined for 11 1/3 innings of shutout ball.
T.J. Mullins (1-0) earned his first victory of the season by pitching two innings of relief in the series finale and allowing one run - the solo home run to Parker - while striking out two.
Coffey was the only GSW batter with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Planas collected three hits for Barry. Coleman and English added two apiece.
The Blue & Gold (1-2) travel to West Alabama for a three-game series beginning on Saturday at 2 p.m.
