MEMPHIS—The Christian Brothers University Bucs gave up 15 runs in the seventh and eighth innings as they lost to visiting Blue Mountain 21-13 Wednesday afternoon after leading 10-6 going into the seventh inning.

The Toppers (12-19) built an early lead, scoring five runs in the first inning as they strung four singles, a triple, and a walk together to bat around, the first of three times in the game they would do so.

The Bucs (14-12-1) got on the board in the third inning as Brent Goode (Jackson, Tenn./North Side HS) doubled, moved to third on a Jimmy Franklin (Knoxville, Tenn./Powell HS) bunt single, and scored on a Lans Hardin (Keystone Heights, Fla./Keystone Heights HS) sacrifice fly.  After giving up another run in the top of the fourth, the Bucs put another dent in the lead as Tyler Dunn (Bartlett, Tenn./Tipton-Rosemark Academy) hit an RBI triple to right before scoring on a Seth Cline (Cottontown, Tenn./Portland HS) sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 5-3.

Blue Mountain's Dustin Lunn homered to start the fifth to give the Toppers a 6-3 lead, but the Bucs answered in a big way in the bottom of the sixth.  Aaron Smith (Lewisburg, Miss./Lewisburg HS) drew a leadoff walk, and back-to-back singles from Alan Wright (Olive Branch, Miss./DeSoto Central HS) and Dunn loaded the bases with none out.  Cline drew a walk and Goode singled, bringing the Bucs within a run, and Franklin blasted a three-run double off the fence in center.  Hardin followed with an RBI double.  With two out, Smith singled to score Hardin and give the Bucs a 10-6 lead.

The top of the seventh started harmlessly enough, with a pair of groundouts sandwiching a walk and a wild pitch.  A two-out single brought a run in and kept the inning alive, and a walk put runners on first and second with two out.  An error let the inning continue.  By the time the inning finally ended, the Bucs had gone through three pitchers, allowing nine runs on five walks, two singles, a double, a homer, and two errors.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was the Bucs who took advantage of a two-out error, with Cline and Goode coming home on an error after they singled and doubled, respectively, with one out.

Unfortunately for the Bucs, the eighth inning was a repeat of the seventh, as they surrendered six runs on three singles, a double, a homer, a walk, and two hit batters.

Rob Maxwell (Jackson, Tenn./North Side HS) set the final margin with a pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Franklin and Goode each went 3-for-5, with Goode scoring three runs and Franklin driving in three.  Hardin went 2-for-2 with two RBI, and Dunn collected two hits and two runs.

The Bucs return to GSC West play Saturday as they visit Delta State for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.  Sunday's single game starts at 2 p.m.  The Bucs' next home game will be a doubleheader with Bethel Tuesday, April 5, at 3 p.m.