BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Lynn University baseball team escaped Friday's Sunshine State Conference series opener with Saint Leo with a walk-off 9-8 victory in the 11th inning.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Lynn 9, Saint Leo 8

Records: Lynn (20-14, 9-4 SSC), Saint Leo (20-15, 3-7 SSC)

Location: Lynn Baseball Field | Boca Raton, Fla.

Series: Saint Leo leads 36-28

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Saint Leo first baseman Troy Sieber homered in the top of the opening inning to give Saint Leo the first lead of the series.  
• Lynn responded in the home half, as leadoff man John Borup began the frame with his fifth home run of the year. Ryan Donovan's sac fly four batters later put the Fighting Knights in front 2-1.
• The Lions scratched across an unearned run in the third, but the Blue and White again answered the call.
• Tyler Curtis crushed a three-run shot over the right field wall to cap a four-run inning and put Lynn on top 6-2.
• Saint Leo managed five runs over the next three frames before going up 8-6 in the top of the eighth.
• Eric Schindler singled up the middle in the bottom half, and Borup followed with a triple.
• After Borup was cut down at the plate on a fielder's choice, Frank Grandinette plated Kyle Schindler from third to pull even at 8-8.
• Alex Turner legged out an infield single with the bases empty in the bottom of the 11th, and Curtis singled off the base of the wall to give the home nine the walk-off victory.

QUOTABLE:

• "Today was a battle of attrition, and we had a tough time putting up some zeroes early. Saint Leo took advantage of a couple mistakes, but our guys did a great job of picking each other up and battling back. Tyler fouled off several breaking balls throughout the day, and he gave himself a good opportunity in the last at-bat. When we face adversity, our team grows closer together as a team, and that's what we want." – Lynn head coach Rudy Garbalosa

STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Grandinette finished his day with four hits but surrendered six earned runs over six innings on the mound.
• Curtis and Borup combined four hits, including all three of Lynn's extra-base hits.  
• Jonathan Eisdorfer tossed two frames out of the Lynn bullpen, allowing one run along the way.
• Payton Smith tossed the final three chapters on the hill for the Fighting Knights, overcoming two base hits to turn in an unblemished outing en route to the win.
• Five Lions went for two base knocks apiece, with Sieber and designated hitter Shane Williams each launching two home runs.
• Saint Leo starter Jordan Pendleton lasted 4.1 innings on the bump, giving up nine hits before giving way to the bullpen.
• Zach Whitaker was the first man summoned, and he responded by scattering two runs over three innings.
• Right-hander Andrew Cohen tossed the last three frames and took the loss for the Lions.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Curtis now has two walk-off hits this season, with both coming against conference opponents.
• The Fighting Knights are 15-2 this spring when outhitting the opposition.
• Lynn is 2-3 in extra inning contests this year.

UP NEXT

Lynn and Saint Leo are set to wrap up the regular season series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch from Lynn Baseball Field is set for 12:00 pm.