March 30, 2007
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took an 8-3 home baseball victory past visiting Long Island University Friday night to open a four-game weekend series at Lancer Stadium. The Lancers improved to 22-9 overall and 19-5 at home with their 15th win in the last 19 games. Longwood and Long Island (3-11) will continue the series on Saturday, March 31, with a doubleheader scheduled for 12 p.m. at Lancer Stadium in Farmville.
Longwood spotted Long Island a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Robbie Rowen (2-4) singled to lead-off and later scored on an RBI single by James Jones (2-4, RBI). The Blackbirds scored again later in the inning on a sacrifice fly from Frank DiMasi (0-2, RBI) that plated Orlando Cruz (1-4) who had reached on a single as well. The Lancers responded with two runs of their own in the fifth inning as freshman Topher Ellis/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) (0-3, RBI) walked with one out and crossed the plate on an RBI ground-out by senior captain Tyler Ames/Exmore (Northampton) (0-4, RBI). Sophomore Robbie Bailey/Mechanicsville (Hanover) (2-4) added the second run in the inning after he doubled to right field, moved to third on Ames’ grounder, and advanced home on a fielder’s choice play involving an attempted steal.
Long Island added a third run in the sixth inning as Jones singled to lead-off, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI single from Danny Etkin (1-3, RBI). Longwood took the lead for good with four runs in its half of the sixth, the big hit being a two-run double down the right-field line by sophomore pinch-hitter Paul Heidler II/Warrenton (Notre Dame Academy) (1-1, 2 RBI). Ellis added an RBI ground-out as well that scored Heidler while Bailey later crossed the plate on a wild pitch after reaching on a bunt single.
Longwood added two insurance runs in the seventh inning when freshman Rusty Smith/Leesburg (Heritage) (1-1, 2 RBI) hit his first collegiate home run, a two-run blast to left field that also scored classmate Frank Berry II/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) (2-4) who had doubled earlier in the frame. Freshman Scott Kimble/Spotsylvania (Spotsylvania) (2-4) also had two hits in the contest for the Lancers.
Longwood sophomore right-handed pitcher John Walker II/Alexandria (West Potomac) (4-1) earned the pitching win with the final 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Classmate and left-handed starting pitcher Kevin Light/Mechanicsville (Hanover) had tossed the first 5.2 innings on the mound for the Lancers, scattering seven hits and three runs, each earned, with three strikeouts and one walk as well.
Long Island starter Kenny Cedel (0-2) took the pitching loss with the first 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and five runs, all earned, with six strikeouts and three walks.
