Senior Night for the Legion Collegiate Academy Lancers turned into a thrilling extra inning game, but the Lancers came up just a run short as they lost a 4-3 heartbreaker to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee on Tuesday night at The Winthrop Ballpark.

Senior Ryan Burke pitched seven innings of one-hit shutout baseball, but couldn't quite shut the door on Rabun Gap who scored two runs in the eighth inning to tie the game at 2-2 and added two more in the ninth and held on for the 4-3 victory.  The loss drops Legion's record to 13-8-2 while Rabun Gap improves to 18-4.

Burke went 7.2 innings and allowed two runs on six hits and was just one out away from earning the win in his final home game.  He was relieved by Will Bartnikowski who came in to get the final out of the eighth inning, but gave up two runs in the ninth.

The game was a pitcher's dual for six innings as Burke held the strong Rabun Gap offense in check with just one hit.  The Lancers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning off Rabun Gap starter Malcolm Klingler after Gavin MacDonald led off with a double followed by a one-out walk to Hudson Riordan.  Matthew Pond then broke the scoreless tie with a RBI double that scored MacDonald.  Rabun Gap opened the seventh inning with a walk, single and double to score one run and then tied the game on a line drive single that Lancer third baseman Tyler Rosario nearly snagged down the line.

Rabun Gap took a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning off Bartnikowski, but the Lancers battled back in the bottom half of the inning to score one run on a second double of the game by MacDonald and had the possible tying run thrown out at the plate on a perfect relay throw.  

The Lancers would up with eight hits on the night as MacDonald and Justin Iannetto each went 2 for 4. Legion was unable to take advantage of eight walks allowed by Rabun Gap's pitchers.  

The game was the final home game for three Lancer seniors--Burke, Rosario and Riley Stiles.

Legion will close out the 2024 season on Friday, May 3, when it travels to Grace Academy in Matthews, NC.