MOUNT VERNON, Ga. - The Brewton-Parker Christian University Barons baseball team traveled to Dayton, Tennessee, for four games split between the University of St. Francis (Ind.) and Bryan College (Tenn.), with the first day being a single game against each team. The Barons dropped game one to the Cougars of St. Francis 4-5 in the early game and dropped game two to the Lions of Bryan 3-15 in seven innings.
Game one saw the Cougars' ninth inning rally spoil a strong early effort from the Barons, who jumped on top in the first inning behind the bat of Fred Guzman Diaz. Diaz opened the scoring with a two-run homer to center to give Brewton-Parker a 2-0 lead. After Saint Francis answered with a run in the bottom of the first, the Barons added two more runs in the third, highlighted by a Diaz single and his eventual run scored on a wild pitch, to build a 4-2 advantage.
Diaz was the offensive standout for Brewton-Parker, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Despite managing just five hits on the day, the Barons consistently pressured Saint Francis's pitching, drawing 13 walks and stranding 17 runners on base. Both teams finished with three errors, but the Barons were unable to fully capitalize on their numerous baserunners in the later innings.
On the mound, Steven Trinidad gave the Barons a quality start. Trinidad worked 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits and two runs, only one of them earned. He struck out seven and walked four, keeping Saint Francis in check through the middle innings before turning the game over to the bullpen with Brewton-Parker still in front. Ultimately, the Cougars struck twice in the ninth, walking off game one.
Game two saw Bryan use the long ball to seize control from the start, homering twice in the first inning and piling up nine runs through three frames on the way to a 15-run, 11-hit performance that included nine home runs overall. Brewton-Parker was limited to three runs on six hits, all of which came in a final-inning push after being held scoreless through the first six innings.
The Barons trailed 10-0 entering the seventh but broke through with their best offensive sequence of the day. Caleb Strott put Brewton-Parker on the board with a two-run home run, and Raul Morales followed with a solo shot later in the frame to trim the margin to 10-3. The pair combined for five of the Barons' six hits, with Morales finishing 3-for-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored, and Strott going 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and a run. Bryan answered immediately in the bottom half, however, ending any hopes of a late comeback.
The Barons will look to bounce back against both teams as they face off against both in another doubleheader on February 21, 2026.
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