Miles never trailed in either of the two games of Saturday's doubleheader against Lane...until the final inning of each contest. While that led to a 5-4 defeat in the first game, the Golden Bears were able to get a walk-off single from Drake Fondren in the nightcap for a 7-6 win at historic Rickwood Field. Starting pitchers Andrew Datcher and Zavian Caldwell had big performances to keep the team in both contests.

GAME 1 - Lane 5, Miles 4

Datcher was in control for most of the afternoon. The senior hurler finished with 12 strikeouts in the complete-game effort but catcher Jeffrey Wright was unable to corral Datcher's final K of the afternoon, which opened the door for the Dragons to earn the victory.

The Golden Bears entered the seventh with a 4-2 lead but were in a bit of trouble as Lane put runners on second and third with two outs. Datcher was able to get Zach Elias to swing and miss for what would have been the game-ending strikeout. But when the ball got past Wright, O'Neal reached first and Tarvariz Brown scored while Treviz Brown moved over to third.

Curtis Armstrong would then single to right to tie the game and move Elias to third. After the play ended, Armstrong slowly took off towards second and baited a throw from Datcher. As the throw went to second, Elias sprinted home, beating the throw to give Lane its first lead. Miles attempted to tie the game in the bottom of the frame, putting runners on second and third with two outs. But Jacob Bisharat took a called third strike that ended the game.

A RBI double by Peyton Caron put Miles on the board and the score was 2-0 when Caron stole home as Elias took his eye off the Golden Bears' third baseman. Wright would add a sacrifice fly in the third and a RBI groundout in the fourth by Caron had given Miles a 4-2 advantage.

GAME 2 - Miles 7, Lane 6

Caldwell was in control all game, allowing just one unearned run and striking out eight in six innings of work. Miles entered the bottom of the sixth with a small 2-1 lead before exploding for four runs in the inning. Will Cantey's RBI single to right started big frame and Grey Humphries finished it with a 3-run double that nearly left the yard in right center.

But needing just three outs to secure the victory, it took the Golden Bears three pitchers just to salvage a tie. With two outs, the Dragons scored five times to tie the game. A two-run homer by Treviz Brown off Kolton Easterwood got Lane started and a 3-run double by Thomas Arias tied the game at 6. Cantey had to come in from the outfield to get the final out, which gave Miles a chance in the bottom of the frame.

With one out, Caron walked, then stole second. Bisharat was intentionally walked, which brough Fondren to the plate for the first time all afternoon. He promptly stroked a single to right, scoring Caron from second with the winning run that helped the Golden Bears salvage a split.

UP NEXT 

Miles and Lane will play another doubleheader on Sunday at historic Rickwood Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.