5.19.2012

BOX SCORE GAME ONE | BOX SCORE GAME TWO

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Longwood University split a season-ending baseball doubleheader on the road at Rider University of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Saturday afternoon in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.  The Lancers won the opener 4-3 in come-from-behind fashion as senior captain Robby Newman|Virginia Beach (Salem) hit a game-winning two-run home run in the eighth inning, and freshman Tyler Wislocki|Annandale (W.T. Woodson) had the pitching win in late relief, while junior Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) hit a two-run home run, and sophomore Cory Ramsey|Petersburg (Matoaca) took the mound loss in the 16-3 setback in the second game against the Broncs (21-32).  Longwood completed its 2012 season with a final record of 27-21 for the 31st winning season in the program's 35-year history -- also the 31st overall 20-win campaign, and 24th season with at least 25 wins.

Longwood took the opener despite falling behind 3-0 after three innings as Rider scored two runs in the second and one run in the third.  The Lancers made it 3-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth when freshman Travis Biddix|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) (2-4, RBI) provided a run-scoring single and sophomore Zach Mihalko|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) (0-2, RBI) contributed an RBI on a fielder's choice.  Newman (1-2, 2 RBI) had the game-winner in the eighth inning with his one-out, two-run home run to left field that scored sophomore Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) (1-2) who had singled.  It was the team-best 13th homer this season for Newman who had drawn two walks earlier in the contest.  Senior captain Matt Gwaltney|Chesterfield (Matoaca) (1-4), sophomore captain Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) (1-5), and freshman Brandon Delk|Newport News (Warwick) (1-1) each added hits in the first game.

Wislocki (3-0) gained the pitching win in relief for Longwood with 1.0 scoreless inning, allowing one hit with no walks and no strikeouts.  Sophomore Ryan Schubert|Springfield (Annandale) earned the save (3) with the final 2.0 scoreless innings, yielding one hit with no walks and one strikeout.  Freshman Brandon Vick|Newport News (Warwick) had started and pitched the first 6.0 innings, scattering seven hits and one earned run with two walks and three strikeouts.

Chris Taylor (0-3) took the mound loss in relief for Rider with 1.1 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs with no walks and no strikeouts.  Ken Kremer (2-3, RBI) had two hits and an RBI, and Jerry Mulderig (1-4, 2 RBI) had a hit and two RBI to lead the Broncs.

Longwood took an early 3-0 lead in the second game as Lacy (1-3, 2 RBI) hit a one-out, two-run home run in the first inning following a lead-off double by Dickason (2-4, RBI).  The Lancers made it 3-0 in the second when Dickason provided a two-out, run-scoring single that scored sophmore Alex Owens|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (1-3) who had singled as well.  Unfortunately, Rider spoiled the final game of the season for the visitors with three runs each in both the second and third innings, six runs in the fourth, and four runs in the sixth en route to its come-from-behind home win.  Ramsey (0-5) started and took the loss for Longwood with the first 2.2 innings, allowing 10 hits and four earned run with no walks and no strikeouts.  Gwaltney (1-3) and Biddix (1-1) each added hits in the second game.

Rider pounded 20 hits in game two, though only one for extra bases (double), while led by Ian Lindsay (4-5, 2 RBI) with four hits and two RBI, Brandon Cotten (2-4, 4 RBI) with two hits and four RBI, and Ryan Murphy (2-4, 2 RBI) with two hits and two RBI.  Kurt Sowa (5-4) gained the win for the Broncs with the first 6.0 innings, scattering six hits and three earned runs with one walk and five strikeouts.

Robby Newman and Matt Gwaltney each completed their respective Longwood Baseball careers this weekend in New Jersey.  Newman finished his senior campaign with a batting average of .331 with 13 home runs, 17 doubles, 47 RBI, and a .663 slugging percentage.  He hit 49 career doubles to rank sixth all-time, and 29 career home runs to rank 10th all-time.  Gwaltney ended his senior season with a batting average of .280 with four doubles and five RBI, while on the mound, he was 3-4 with a 4.55 ERA through 87.0 innings with 55 strikeouts and only 11 walks (1.14) -- making 10 starts with five complete games and two saves.  His walk total this season ranks sixth all-time, while his career average of 2.18 (206.0 innings-50 walks) ranks fourth all-time.