April 26, 2006

BOX SCORE

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Longwood University took a 9-2 collegiate baseball victory at West Virginia University of the Big East Conference Wednesday afternoon in Morgantown, the program’s first-ever win over a Big East opponent.  Longwood led 9-0 into the ninth inning after securing the road triumph with seven runs in the seventh inning as the Lancers improved their record to 20-22, the 28th-year program’s 25th 20-win season.  The Mountaineers dropped to 27-14.  Longwood will now be idle for nine days before returning to action May 6-7 with a two-game weekend series at nationally-ranked #15 North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
    
Longwood got on the scoreboard first with a run in the fifth inning to lead 1-0 before scoring seven runs in the seventh to lead 8-0.  The Lancers added another run in the eighth inning for the 9-0 advantage before West Virginia managed two runs in its last at-bat to avoid the shutout.  Longwood received an outstanding pitching effort from junior captain Brian McCullough/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) (5-3, 3.42 ERA) who earned the complete-game win, scattering seven hits and two earned runs with six strikeouts and no walks over the 9.0 innings.  It was McCullough’s team-leading third compete-game of the season while increasing his team-best innings pitched to 92.0 innings.
    
In the fifth, freshman Paul Heidler/Warrenton (Notre Dame Academy) (0-4) walked to open the frame, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Travis Lydon/Westlake, Ohio (St. Edward) (0-2), and scored on a ground-ball RBI by freshman Brandon Maupin/Woodbridge (Potomac) (0-1, RBI).  
    
In the seventh, the Lancers scored seven runs on five hits including a two-run home run to left field from redshirt sophomore captain Zach Zigrang/Virginia Beach (Kempsville) (1-5, 2 RBI), his team-high fifth this year.  The big inning also featured a pair of two-run singles by junior captain Tyler Ames/Exmore (Northampton) (1-3, 2 RBI) and classmate Tyler Childress/Montclair (Forest Park) (2-3, 2 RBI).  The other run came on an RBI single from sophomore Joe Bott/Elyria, Ohio (Elyria Catholic) (1-2, RBI).
    
Longwood added the run in the eighth when Lydon scored on a wild pitch after reaching base when hit by a pitch.  The Mountaineers plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth on three hits, including a double.  Freshman Jon Quigley/Annandale (W.T. Woodson) (2-4) also had two hits for the Lancers along with a stolen base.