February 5, 2006

BOX SCORE

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Longwood University scored five runs in the seventh inning and held off a late Terrier rally to defeat Wofford 11-10 Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  The big blast for the Lancers (1-2) was a three-run home run by sophomore Travis Lydon/Westlake, Ohio (St. Edward).  Longwood will play again on Wednesday, Feb. 8, hosting Norfolk State for a doubleheader at Lancer Stadium beginning at 1 p.m..

The game was scoreless until Wofford (2-1) pushed across a run in the third as Adam Wood, Eric Sturkie and Ben Austin all reached base on infield singles to load the bases.  Chuck Eller hit a sacrifice fly to center to score the Terriers’ first run.  Wofford added a run in the fourth on Shane Kirkley’s solo homer.  Longwood scored twice in the fifth to tie the game on a bases loaded walk and an infield single.

The Terriers took a 7-2 lead with a five-run fifth.  Stephen Johnson doubled in a pair of runs in the inning.  Longwood responded with three runs in the sixth.  Two walks and a single loaded the bases before Robbie Bailey cleared them with a three-run double.

Lydon’s homer keyed a five-run seventh for Longwood which also added a single run in the eighth on an RBI double by Lydon to take an 11-7 lead.  The Lancers had entered the seventh inning trailing 7-5.  A hit batter, a fielding error and an infield single scored one run before Lydon hit his homer to left.  The Terriers scored three times in the eighth to pull within one.  Adam Wood and Ben Austin singled before pinch hitter Keith Munns scored Wood with a single to center.  Eller then singled home two runs to close the lead to 11-10.  That is when Longwood brought in reliever Brett Mangigian who escaped the eighth inning and pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth.

Longwood’s Alan Moore was credited with the win in relief, while Wofford reliever J.D. Melton took the loss as he allowed five hits and three runs in one inning of work.