WACO, Texas — Great pitching from Billy Black and JD Ogden nearly powered Columbia Baseball (4-6 0-0 IVY) to another comeback win over Baylor (9-6 0-0 BIG 12), but the Lions fell in 10 innings, 4-3, in the final game of the weekend series at Baylor Ballpark.
 
The Lions got six strong innings from the game's starter, Black, coupled with three strong innings from Ogden (0-2) and twice through the game Columbia answered Baylor's lead, scoring in the eighth inning to eventually force extra innings.  Columbia was also strong running the bases, collecting a season high five stolen bases, including a career high three from Joshua Solomon, who went 2-3 on the day with 1 RBI.
 
"Billy Black pitched his best game as a Lion today and I thought that was the most focused and intense baseball we have played this year," said head coach Brett Boretti.  "Now we have to be able to sustain that level of energy.  It was a lot fun to be at the field today."
 
But in the end, Baylor's bats were able to outlast Columbia's strong pitching and defense, a defense which committed only one error over the three-game series, to walk it off in the 10th with an RBI single to win take two out of three games in the series.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Right from the beginning the Lions set the tone, looking to ride the momentum they had gotten from the previous night's 11-4 outburst in Columbia's second game win of the doubleheader, and the tone was set by Seth Dardar, who took the first pitch of the game down the right side for a single.
 
Dardar then stole second, the first of five on the day for Columbia, and after Hayden Schott moved him to third by lining out to center, an attempted pick off play at third from the Baylor catcher sailed into left field allowing Dardar to scamper home for the opening run of the game in the first inning.
 
After a scoreless opening two frames from Black, who put together a line of 6.0 IP 6 H 3 R 3 ER 3 K, the Bears got to the Columbia starter.  After a one out single, Baylor's Tre Richardson hit a two-run to center field to put the Bears in front 2-1.
 
The score remained 2-1 until the sixth inning, when Tyler MacGregor got Columbia's bats going with a one out single to left.  Cole Hage's double down the left field line in the next at bat would score MacGregor from second and tie the game up at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
 
Baylor would regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth when a leadoff walk would come around to score on a one out fielder's choice, but Baylor could only score one in the inning to hold a slight 3-2 lead heading into the final three innings.
 
Columbia still trailed by a run heading into the top of the eighth, but a leadoff walk from Hage put the Lions in position to change that.  And following a ground out from Schott that moved Hage along and a wild pitch that advanced him to third, Solomon smacked a single through the left side to score Hage and tie the game up at 3-3.
 
Despite each team getting runners on base in the ninth inning, neither Columbia or Baylor would score the winning run and the game would roll into extra innings.
 
The Lions did give themselves a chance to take the lead in the top of the 10th, thanks to a Solomon walk, followed by a pair of stolen bases from the senior centerfielder.  But the Lions were unable to get Solomon the final 90 feet needed to score the go ahead run and it remained tied heading into the bottom of the 10th inning.
 
Baylor used a leadoff walk, coupled with a double to right to put themselves in position to win the game in the bottom of the 10th inning.  And a RBI walk-off single for the Bears would finish the game, with Baylor winning in extras, 4-3, to wrap up the weekend series.
 
GAME NOTES: This was the first extra inning game for the Lions since May 2019 against Harvard … Columbia stole five or more bases for the first time since 2016 … Solomon's three stolen bags is the first time a Lion has done that Ben Porter stole three against Penn in 2018 … Black's outing ties for the longest of his career.
 
UP NEXT: Columbia continues its southwest swing with a visit across the border into Louisiana to McNeese on Tuesday, Mar. 15, before returning across state lines to face Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday, Mar. 16.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Baseball by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsBaseball), Instagram (@culionsbaseball) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).