4.23.2011

BOX SCORE GAME ONE

BOX SCORE GAME TWO

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University split a home baseball doubleheader against visiting North Carolina A&T of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Saturday afternoon at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville. The Lancers (24-14) won the first game versus the Aggies (13-24) by a score of 7-6 in 10 innings before falling 2-1 in the second game. Senior captain Brant Jones|Richmond (Monacan) had three hits, including a triple and a double, with an RBI in the opener while junior Mark Montgomery|Williamsburg (Bruton) earned the pitching win with the final three innings of scoreless relief on the mound. Longwood and MEAC member North Carolina A&T will play another doubleheader on Easter Sunday, April 24, though this time in Greensboro, North Carolina beginning at 1 p.m.

In game one, Longwood allowed the Aggies to take a 4-0 lead through four innings en route to leading 5-0 in the fifth before the Lancers put three runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth to trail 5-3. The visitors made it 6-3 with a run in the sixth, but the hosts scored three runs in the seventh to tie it at 6-6 and force extra innings during the scheduled seven-inning contest. It remained tied until the bottom of the 10th when Longwood finally pushed across the winning run with two outs, unearned via a throwing error, nonetheless. Freshman Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) (2-5, rbi) reached on a separate throwing error to open the at-bat, moved to second on a single by sophomore Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) (2-5), and scored the decisive run after advancing to third on a bunt-single to the pitcher from junior Dustin Sollars|Midlothian (Cosby) (2-5) and continuing on across the plate when the pitcher threw wildly to first base on the play.

North Carolina A&T had scored two runs in the first on an RBI single from Marquis Riley (2-5, 2 rbi) and a sacrifice fly by Luke Tendler (1-4, 2 rbi). The Aggies added a run in the third on another run-scoring single from Riley, scored a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Xavier Macklin (1-4, rbi), and added a run in the fifth on a run-scoring triple from Tendler. Their run in the sixth was scored unearned by Mark Nales (1-2) courtesy a passed ball.

Longwood's runs in the fifth were scored by junior Robby Newman|Virginia Beach (Salem) (1-4) who singled, advanced to second on a single by freshman Alex Owens|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (2-3), and scored on a run-scoring double from senior captain Chris Briere|Midlothian (James River) (1-4, rbi). Owens scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) (0-4, rbi), and Briere scored on a ground-ball out off the bat of junior Michael Sims|Stafford (North Stafford) (1-5, 2 rbi). The Lancers' runs in the seventh were scored by Briere who had reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error on the same play. He moved to third on another throwing error, and scored on another ground-out by Sims. Dickason also reached via a fielder's choice play and scored on an RBI double from Jones who tied the game when scoring on a dramatic, two-out RBI double by Burkett.

Briere started and pitched the first 7.0 innings for Longwood, scattering eight hits and six runs, two earned, with five strikeouts and no walks. Montgomery (1-0) collected his first win of the season with the final 3.0 shutout innings, yielding no hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

In game two, North Carolina A&T scored single runs in both the third and sixth innings, while limiting Longwood to a lone run in the fifth for the split of the twinbill. Craig Erskine (1-2, rbi) had an RBI double in the third, and Tendler (1-3) scored unearned via a throwing error in the sixth. Sims (1-3, rbi) had a run-scoring single in the fifth for Longwood that scored Owens (1-3) who had also singled. Newman (2-3) had two hits in the nightcap as the Lancers stranded 10 baserunners, including three runners left on base in the seventh after loading the bases with two outs before a foul-ball out just beyond the third base bag ended the contest.

Junior Matt Gwaltney|Chesterfield (Matoaca) (4-5) took the pitching loss for Longwood with the first 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, one earned, with three strikeouts and two walks. Senior Troy Dickman|Manakin Sabot (Midlothian) tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing one hit with one walk.

Longwood veteran 33rd-year head coach Buddy Bolding (896-491-4) added career coaching victory number 896 in the opener.