ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Farmington Tigers opened their 2025 varsity baseball season on a chilly Friday afternoon with a narrow 4-3 loss to the Rochester Mayo Spartans. The game was decided on the final play in the bottom of the seventh inning.

RECAP
Farmington and Mayo traded runs early, with the Spartans striking first in the bottom of the first on a Carter Funk RBI double. The Tigers tied it at 1-1 in the top of the fourth when Payton Topel delivered a sacrifice fly.

Mayo reclaimed the lead in the fifth, pushing across two runs with RBI singles from Kyle Leopold and Wyatt Anderson to make it 3-1. Farmington responded in the top of the sixth, once again relying on Topel's bat, who brought home his second run of the day on another sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, with the game still tied, Anderson came through for the Spartans with a walk-off single that scored the game-winning run, sealing the 4-3 win for Mayo.

TOP TIGERS
Payton Topel led the Tigers with two RBIs, both coming on sacrifice flies in key situations. Marshall Gordon paced Farmington at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

Ethan Hagman started on the mound for Farmington, striking out nine over five innings while allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. Caden Lock pitched in relief and took the loss after surrendering the final run in the seventh inning.

UP NEXT
The Tigers will look to bounce back when they host Owatonna on Tuesday, April 8, in their home opener at Tiger Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG
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