ALBANY, Ga. - Lynn University baseball battled back from multiple deficits and forced extra innings, but a walk-off run in the bottom of the 10th lifted Albany State to a 6-5 victory on Monday afternoon. The Fighting Knights return home from their first road trip of the 2026 season with a 5-6 record, showing resilience throughout a tightly contested matchup that featured four lead changes and a dramatic late comeback.
 
Lynn jumped out to an early two-run lead in the opening frame and later erased a one-run deficit in the fifth before manufacturing the tying run in the ninth to send the game to extras. Despite another strong bullpen effort and timely offense from Bryant Zayas, Albany State ultimately sealed the decision with an unearned run in the 10th.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lynn struck first in the opening frame, using patience and timely contact as Willie Kimbler walked, Zayas doubled, and Scout Simpson and Jason Lashley each drove in a run to give the Fighting Knights a 2-0 lead
- Albany State answered in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning and an RBI single to trim the deficit to 2-1
- After a scoreless second inning on both sides, the Golden Rams grabbed the lead in the third, plating two runs on back-to-back extra-base hits to move ahead 3-2
- Albany State added another run in the fourth to extend its advantage to 4-2
- Lynn evened the score in the fifth, as Zayas delivered a clutch two-run single up the middle to score Angel Matos and Charlie Devito
- The Golden Rams regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a run-scoring groundout, nudging the score to 5-4
- Both pitching staffs settled in from the sixth through eighth innings, keeping the game within a one-run margin heading into the late innings
- The Fighting Knights forced extras in the ninth, manufacturing the tying run with a pinch runner, a wild pitch, and disciplined plate appearances to knot the game at 5-5
- Lynn threatened in the 10th but came up empty after a double play ended the inning
- Albany State walked it off in the bottom of the 10th, scoring the winning run on an unearned tally following an error to secure the 6-5 decision
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Zayas delivered timely offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base, driving in runs in both the first and fifth innings
- Kimbler set the tone at the top of the order, reaching base four times via walks and scoring a run
- Matos provided steady production, finishing 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored
- Simpson and Lashley each chipped in an RBI in the opening frame to help Lynn jump out to an early lead
- Joel Tapia-Melo came through off the bench with a pinch-hit single in the ninth to spark Lynn's game-tying rally
- Zackary Gonzalez was dominant out of the bullpen, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit to keep the Fighting Knights within striking distance
- Lynn totaled six hits and showed late resilience, tying the game in the ninth inning to force extras on the road

UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights will be back in action at home this Sunday as they host Georgian Court for an afternoon doubleheader, kicking off at 12 pm.