The Resurrection Life Warriors fell to Pax Christi for the second time in as many chances this season. The final margin was three runs, matching the defeat of the opening game of the season. Pax won a back and forth contest 16-13 by hitting a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth with two outs.
A managerial miscue contributed to the end, as Rez decided to walk the previous battter and pitch to the eventual game-winner. The loss drops the Warriors back down to .500 at 3-3 and makes it very tough for the team to win the league.
The offense was not very good and missed several opportunities that the Pax defense gave it. The Warriors managed just 13 hits in the five innings but drew four walks and reached base on four different errors.
The low tone was set in the first inning as Andy Briggs, back from a long layoff, singled to start the game and moved to second on Ben Terfehr's walk. Austin Colby, battling an illness, lofted a three-run homer to center to put Rez on top 3-0 after three batters. However, the offense then left two runners on base an didn't push another run across in the first. Jason Merritt and Jordan Schumack both reached base with one out but were frozen on the bases.
In the bottom of the first, Pax managed one run on two hits. It could have been more if not for a great catch from Jamy Antoine that opened the inning. Jamy made his second back-handed running catch in the outfield which saved at least one run.
Rez managed just one run in the second as Jeff Johnson lofted a flyball to right-center that was dropped and Lee Valle placed a hustle-double to score Jeff. Another Pax error put runners on first and second with no outs, but consecutive line drives hit right at the shortstop led to a fielder's choice and doubleplay to end the inning. Tough luck in that frame.
The bottom of the second was a tough inning for the Rez Life defense. Pax started with a bloop single and after a forceout to Jeff at first, Jordan recorded his second strikeout of the game. With two outs, one on and no runs in, Pax bats awakened and Rez Life gloves slumbered. A single to right was misplayed into a double allowing a run to score and then a blooped double fell to score another run. Back-to-back cheap singles plated another run and back-to-back infield errors plated two more which led to a two-run single to cap the inning, making it 9-4 Pax.
Much like the first inning, the Warriors first five hitters reached and scored in the top of the third, but nothing happened after that. Austin and Eric Johnson reached based on grounders to start the inning and both scored as Jason roped one off the wall for a two-rbi double. Jordan singled to score Jason and Jamy finished it off with a towering two-run homer to deep left-center. That tied the game at 9 but that was where the inning ended as Rez wasn't able to muster anymore offense.
The Rez defense looked sharp again in the third, putting the Pax bats down in order. Tied at 9 going into the fourth, Rez took the lead again with four runs. With two outs and nobody on, Austin doubled to center and scored on Eric's majestic deep-fly that landed just short of the street in left-center. Jason promptly followed with his first homerun of the seasn, a low line-drive that just cleared the fence in left. Now up 12-9, Jordan roped a double and scampered home on Jamy's rbi single.
Pax answered quickly with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. The first batter singled and trotted home on a homerun that actually bounced on top of the fence. Pax managed one more hit but it led to nothing and heading into the final inning due to time constraints Rez was up 13-11.
The top of the fifth started well for the Warriors as Jeff and Lee walked to start the inning. John Wooten then hit a hard grounder right at third base which was turned into a doubleplay. With two outs and one on, Andy grounded out to end the inning.
Pax still trailed and needed two runs to tie in the final half inning. The first batter singled up the middle and the second one grounded to Jeff who touched first for one out. A double to right-center made it 13-12 with one out. Another single put runners on the corners and brought the top of the order up. A grounder to Andy at second led to a forceout at second for the second out. That brought up the man who had homered in his last at bat with the winning run on first. The team decided to walk him to bring up the lefty who was just 1-3 on the night. That proved to be the wrong choice as the hitter calmly deposited the first pitch over the fence for a homerun to end the game, 16-13.
Jason earned his first Player of the Game with a 2-3 performance including a double and a homerun. He scored twice and drove home three runners. He reached base all three times up to bat also.
The Warriors now play at 5:50 versus St. Andrew Blue on the Starring Lake field #1 across from Flying Cloud Airport. Every game is a must-win game from here on out for Rez Life.
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