LOS ANGELES – The Lions trailed for what felt like the entire evening, but with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, they went ahead on Joe Reid's bases clearing double and walked off the field as 5-4 winners over Tarleton State on Saturday night at Page Stadium. 

 

Reid's heroics cannot be overstated, but the Lions were in this game because of a phenomenal stint out of the bullpen from Jonah Johnson. Johnson took over for starter Michael Nunez in the third inning and kept the Texans off the board over his 5.1 innings of work. He punched out ten batters, issued one walk and gave up three hits and never really felt any danger. His stats are impressive, but limiting the damage in the third and going the length he did was the true benefit to the Lions' coaching staff. 

 

Offensively, the Lions struggled for much of the evening. They got one in the first on a Kolton Freeman sacrifice fly, but the Texans came out relatively unscathed from a bases loaded no outs situation.  

 

After the Texans put up the four spot in the third inning, the Lions chipped away in the fourth.  

 

Freeman led off the inning with his team leading 14th walk of the season. Robbie Ayers stepped up two batters later and lined a base hit into center field. The center fielder got a late jump and dove for the sinking liner but was unable to make the catch. The ball slipped underneath him for extra bases as Ayers turned hard at second before retreating. Freeman scored easily from first base. 

 

The remainder of the game involved both teams trading zeroes until the bottom of the ninth.  

 

The Lions had a pair of strikeouts to start their half of the ninth inning before the fireworks started. Nate Savoie was down to his last strike before the pitcher came in and hit him with an inside fastball. Ayers followed Savoie's at bat with a line drive double down the first base line. The ball nicked off the first baseman's glove and careened into foul territory. JD Dunn came in to pinch run for Ayers at second base before Colby Wallace worked a full count to load the bases. Zion Williams came in to run for Wallace and set the stage for Reid. 

 

Reid took a close pitch for a ball to get ahead in the count early. On the next pitch, he swung and lifted a ball into shallow right field. The ball seemed to hang up in the air forever as the right fielder and second baseman frantically sprinted towards the line. As the right fielder dove, the ball dropped a foot into fair territory and the race was on. Savoie scored easily, Dunn followed right behind him and Williams came flying around third to score the winning run.  

 

The team mobbed Reid at third base and took the celebration deep into the outfield. It was the Lions' first walkoff win of the season and first time since Benny Casillas had a walkoff single against Saint Mary's in 2024.  

 

The Lions and Texans will conclude their series on Sunday, March 16 with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (PT).