BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn University baseball team secured a Sunshine State Conference series victory over Barry on Easter weekend, splitting the day's doubleheader to improve to 16-17 overall and 6-9 in league play. The Fighting Knights used a late-game surge to take game one before battling throughout game two, highlighted by a five-run fourth inning, as Lynn continued to show resilience and offensive depth across the series.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game #1):
- Lynn jumped on Barry early in the bottom of the first, loading the bases before Joel Tapia-Melo ripped a two-run double and Amaris Harrison followed with a two-run single to put the Fighting Knights in front 4-0
-The Fighting Knights threatened again in the second with back-to-back hits from Justin Lopez and Bryant Zayas, but Barry cut down Lopez at the plate to keep the deficit at four
- Ryan DiMaggio and the Lynn defense kept Barry quiet through the opening four innings, allowing just two hits while stranding multiple Buccaneers baserunners
- Barry broke through in the fifth, using four hits and several wild pitches to score three times and trim Lynn's lead to 4-3
- Lynn answered right back in the bottom half, as Zayas moved into scoring position and Jason Lashley delivered an RBI single to stretch the advantage back to 5-3
- Zackary Gonzalez came on in relief and gave Lynn a clean sixth inning, helping the Blue and White hold the lead heading into the late frames
- Barry cut the deficit to one in the seventh with a leadoff double that later came around to score on an RBI single, but Lynn answered in the bottom half with a Tapia-Melo sacrifice fly to push the lead back to 6-4
- The Buccaneers rallied in the eighth and took advantage of a Lynn error to plate two unearned runs, evening the game at 6-6
- Lynn delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the eighth, as Jackson Tyer singled and stole second, Bryant Zayas reached with a base hit, and Scout Simpson launched a three-run homer to right field to put the Fighting Knights back in front 9-6
- Barry put two runners in scoring position in the ninth, but Lynn shut the door to secure the 9-6 victory
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (Game #1):
- Simpson led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored, including the go-ahead three-run blast in the eighth
- Tapia-Melo finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a two-run double in the first and a sacrifice fly later in the game
- Zayas scored a game-high three runs while adding two hits and a stolen base at the top of the order
- Lashley recorded a multi-hit day, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks
- Lopez added two hits, including a double, as Lynn totaled 13 hits as a team
- On the mound, Gonzalez earned the win, tossing four innings with four strikeouts and allowing just one earned run in relief
- The Fighting Knights bullpen held Barry to one earned run over the final 4.1 innings to secure the victory
- Eight of Lynn's nine starters reached base safely at least once in the win
- Despite allowing 12 hits, Lynn limited the damage by turning two double plays and stranding 10 Barry baserunners

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HOW IT HAPPENED (Game #2):
- Both teams traded quiet first innings, with Bryant Zayas picking up an early hit and stolen base for Lynn, but neither side was able to push across a run
- Barry struck first in the second, using a double and two productive at-bats to plate a pair and take a 2-0 lead
- The Buccaneers added to their advantage in the third with a two-run home run, extending the lead to 4-0
- Lynn responded in a big way in the fourth, as Jason Lashley and Scout Simpson reached before Joel Tapia-Melo delivered a two-run double to get the Fighting Knights on the board
- The rally continued as a wild pitch brought in another run, and Jackson Tyer launched a two-run home run to cap a five-run inning and give Lynn a 5-4 lead
- Barry answered immediately in the fifth, stringing together multiple hits including a three-run home run as part of a four-run inning to regain the lead at 8-5
- Lynn chipped away in the bottom half, taking advantage of an error to bring in a run and cut the deficit to 8-6
- Both pitching staffs settled in over the next few innings, with Lynn threatening but unable to capitalize on multiple baserunners
- Barry broke the game open in the ninth, scoring five runs on four hits, highlighted by a bases-clearing double to extend the lead to 13-6
- Lynn put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth but was unable to rally, falling in game three of the series
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (Game #2):
- Tapia-Melo led the offense with a 3-for-5 performance, driving in two runs and adding a double in the middle of the lineup
- Lashley also delivered a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a walk and scoring a run
- Zayas recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base
- Tyer provided the big swing for Lynn, launching a two-run home run and finishing with two RBI
- Simpson reached base twice, scoring two runs and adding a hit and a walk
- Lynn totaled 10 hits and drew eight walks, consistently putting pressure on the Barry pitching staff
- The Fighting Knights produced multiple extra-base hits, including doubles from Zayas and Tapia-Melo along with Tyer's home run
- On the mound, seven different Lynn pitchers combined to record 13 strikeouts in the contest
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights will head to Palm Beach Atlantic next weekend for a three-game conference series in West Palm Beach, kicking off with a single game on Friday at 6 p.m.