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Coming into the night having lost eight of their last nine games, the Potters battled to win a game which included three lead changes.

“I’m proud of the guys,” said Manager Ryan Stevens. “It’s something we’ve been emphasizing to them. It’s only a matter of time to keep fighting back. When we get guys in scoring position, we have to find a way to get them across the plate. That’s been our biggest downfall as of late. I hope this is the flip of the page for us to start playing better baseball.”

Arroyo Seco scored first in the second inning. After Peyton Holt drew a two-out walk and stole second base, Jordan Rogers hit a groundball single up the middle giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.

The Potters showcased fantastic fielding and hitting in the third inning. First baseman JT Waldon (Folsom Lake College) caught a bouncing throw to retire one Saint batter, and Trey Furrey (Oklahoma Baptist University) snagged a hard-hit grounder at third base before slinging to first to retire another Saint. Craig Schmich recorded his second strikeout to end the half inning.

The Potters scored four runs on four hits in their half of the third inning. After Jeffrey David (University of New Mexico) was hit by a pitch, Chase Stanke (University of Minnesota) slammed a home run over the left field wall. Waldon placed a broken-bat single into left field, followed by RBI singles by Furrey and Brandon Motheral (University of Pacific) which gave the Potters a 4-1 lead.

Furrey batted 4-for-5 with three RBI.

Arroyo Seco scored five runs in the fourth inning, including an RBI single by Rogers, a two-RBI single by Jacob Sanchez, a sacrifice fly by Jeffrey Bauser, and a sacrifice bunt by Dylan Johnson.

The Potters reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning. Chase Weissenborn (University of New Mexico) reached base on a walk. And when David sped to first base after hitting a ground ball, the throw sailed over first base, allowing Weissenborn to race around the bases and score. Stanke and Waldon walked to load the bases, and Furrey ripped a groundball single into right field to tie the game. Stanke ran home after a wild pitch, giving the Potters a 7-6 lead.

Lincoln manufactured its eighth run in the fifth inning. Cort MacDonald got his second hit before advancing on a bunt by Weissenborn, later scoring on a flyball by David.

Both halves of the eighth inning proved key for the Potters. Right-handed pitcher Ryan Sturgeon (Louisiana State University-Shreveport) retired the Saint side, protecting Lincoln’s one-run lead. After Stanke walked in the bottom half, Waldon cracked a double down the third base line. Furrey followed with an RBI single, giving the Potters their tenth run.

Waldon batted 2-for-4 including a walk.

Kyson Donahue homered in the ninth inning for the Saints, cutting the Potter lead to two runs. But Sturgeon tallied his sixth and seventh strikeouts to seal the win, 10-8.

You can find tonight's box score here.