LONDON – The Durham Lords (10-4) split their doubleheader against the Fanshawe Falcons in London, maintaining their third-place standing in the OCAA as they head into the final four games of the regular season.
 
Griffin Oliver continued his impressive season, adding two more hits to bring his league-leading total to 20. The Oshawa native now has 73 career hits over four seasons with the Lords, moving him into eighth place on the OCAA's all-time hit list. Oliver's .465 batting average ranks fourth highest in the league this season.
 
Durham secured a thrilling 10-9 victory in the first game, thanks to a consistent offensive attack. The Lords scored in five different innings, with a pivotal three-run sixth inning breaking open a close contest.
 
Zach Rivers (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI) and Oliver (2-for-3, 2 R) set the pace, while Tristan DesLauriers (3-for-4, 2 RBI) delivered a key double in the fifth inning. Nick King started on the mound, giving up seven runs (six earned) in 3.2 innings, but Ethan Dunn closed out the game with 3.1 innings of relief, allowing two runs while striking out four to earn the win.
 
In the second game, Durham was edged out 2-1 in a pitching duel. Despite outhitting Fanshawe 8-4, the Lords could only muster one run, which came in the third inning on an RBI double by Baylan MacKellar (2-for-4, 1 RBI). Mark Baxter turned in a stellar performance, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits, but two Durham errors proved costly as Fanshawe capitalized to secure the win.
 
Durham's next doubleheader is a week from today in Etobicoke against the second-place Humber Hawks.