TUCSON, Ariz. - The Falcons split their Friday action at the Tucson Invitational Games, suffering a 6-9 loss to Crown in the first game before bouncing back with a thrilling 11-10 walk-off win against Linfield. With the results, the Falcons remain at .500, holding a 4-4 record.
In game one, the Falcons stormed out to a 5-0 lead through the first two innings. The offense got rolling quickly in the top of the first when senior Kyle Flynn (Downers Grove, Ill.) and freshman Graham Kasten (Mequon, Wis.) both singled to lead off the game. Senior Brynden Cleveland (Crestwood, Ill.) brought home Flynn on a fielder's choice, and senior Josh Aguiniga (Chicago, Ill.) followed with a sacrifice fly to score Kasten.
In the bottom of the first, senior Zach Slome (Schaumburg, Ill.) recorded three quick outs, keeping Crown off the board. The Falcons added three more runs in the second inning when Cleveland delivered a bases-clearing double to left field, extending the lead to 5-0.
However, Crown fought back, eventually tying the game at 5-5 after six innings.
In the top of the seventh, sophomore Alex Ames (Plymouth, Wis.) put the Falcons back on top with an RBI single to score junior Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.), who had walked to start the inning.
But Crown responded with two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings, while the Falcons were held scoreless, ultimately falling 6-9.
Slome pitched seven innings, striking out seven batters. Junior Nikolai Nawracaj (New Lenox, Ill.) added one inning of relief, striking out one. Offensively, Ames and sophomore Connor Lasch (Chicago, Ill.) each had three hits, while Cleveland drove in a team-high four RBIs.
The Falcons drew eight walks as a team, but Crown's late rally proved too much to overcome.
Game two was a dramatic affair, with the Falcons securing an 11-10 walk-off victory over Linfield.
After a scoreless first four innings, the Falcons struck first in the fifth.
With the bases loaded, Ames singled to center, driving in two runs to put Concordia ahead.
Senior David Russ (Round Lake, Ill.) kept Linfield scoreless in the top of the sixth, and CUW's offense exploded in their half of the inning. Cleveland opened the frame with a home run, and Owens followed with a two-RBI single to left.
Ames continued his strong performance with a two-RBI single of his own, and Lasch added another run-scoring single, extending the lead to 8-0.
However, Linfield rallied with eight runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 8-8.
The Falcons quickly regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, thanks to Ames' two-RBI single, putting them ahead 10-8.
But Linfield would not go away, tying the game once again in the top of the ninth with two runs.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Falcons wasted no time walking it off.
Ames led off with a single to center, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Flynn followed with a single to right to move Ames to third. With no outs and Ames in scoring position, Kasten singled to drive in Ames, securing the walk-off victory for CUW — their second walk-off win in Arizona.
Ames had a career day, going 5-for-5 with six RBIs; with his performance, he became the first Falcon since Danny Hahn had five hits in the 2022 season. Owens added three hits and two RBIs, while Cleveland hit his fourth home run of the season.
As a team, the Falcons tallied 17 hits, compared to Linfield's eight.
Kuntz was dominant on the mound, throwing five innings of shutout ball with eight strikeouts. Senior Arthur Liebau (Mequon, Wis.) earned his first career win as a Falcon.
The Falcons will conclude their Arizona trip tomorrow with a doubleheader against St. John's.
