BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn University baseball team erupted for 16 runs and withstood multiple Erskine rallies to secure a 16-13 victory Thursday afternoon at the Lynn Baseball Field. A six-run third inning gave the Fighting Knights early command, and timely insurance runs paired with clutch relief pitching helped the Blue and White fend off late pressure. Behind a balanced offensive effort and key bullpen performances, Lynn delivered one of its most explosive outings of the young season to improve to 2-3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Erskine went down in order to start the game before Lynn struck first in the bottom half, as Justin Lopez cracked a leadoff double, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on another wild pitch to give the Fighting Knights a 1-0 lead
- Lynn added to the advantage in the second inning when Ivan Herrera reached on an error, moved into scoring position, and came home on Charlie Devito's RBI single, extending the margin to 2-0
- The Blue and White delivered the decisive punch in the third with a six-run surge as Angel Matos drove in a run, Willie Kimbler followed with a two-RBI single, and Devito crushed a three-run homer, blowing the game open and energizing the dugout, 8-0
- When Erskine answered in the fourth, Lynn immediately countered: Herrera's two-run single and a productive sacrifice fly from Matos restored control and kept the Fighting Knights firmly in front, 11-4
- After settling in defensively, Lynn struck again in the sixth as Jackson Tyer, Lopez, and Bryant Zayas delivered consecutive RBI hits to stretch the lead and maintain pressure, 14-4
- Erskine made a push in the seventh, racking up five runs on two hits, five walks and a Lynn error to cut the Blue and White lead to five, 14-9
- A sacrifice bunt set the table before Kimbler lifted a sacrifice fly, adding an important insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, 15-9
- The Flying Fleet struck back in the top of the eighth, blasting a pair of two run homers to cut the Fighting Knight lead to two heading into the final inning and a half of play, 15-13
- Lynn refused to let momentum swing late, answering Erskine's eighth-inning rally with Scout Simpson's RBI single to preserve breathing room, 16-13
- With the game on the line, Mason Tinsley took the mound and shut the door in the ninth, sealing Lynn's high-scoring victory with a decisive strikeout
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- The Lynn offense exploded for 16 runs on 16 hits, scoring in seven different innings
- Lopez led the table-setters, going 3-for-4 with 4 runs scored, an RBI, and a double
- Devito powered the middle of the lineup, finishing 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and 4 RBI
- Zayas added a 3-hit night, including an RBI double
- Simpson recorded 3 hits, drove in a run, and stole two bases
- Tyer collected two doubles and an RBI
- Herrera delivered a 2-RBI single and reached base twice
- Kimbler drove in 3 runs, including a key two-run hit and a sacrifice fly
- Lynn drew 8 walks, was hit by three pitches, and stole two bases, constantly applying pressure
- The Blue and White produced two sacrifice flies and a sacrifice bunt to capitalize on scoring chances
- On the mound, Jake Warnock (1-0) earned the win with 3.0 innings, allowing just 1 earned run
- Tinsley (S, 1) closed the game with a scoreless ninth to record the save
- Ryan DiMaggio got the start, striking out four batters in 3.2 IP
 
UP NEXT:
Lynn continues their weekend series on Friday afternoon at 2:00 pm as the Fighting Knights welcome Washburn for the second game of a three-game weekend.