March 12, 2010

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 6-3 baseball decision to visiting Marist College Friday afternoon at Bolding Stadium in Farmville. The Lancers (7-4) and Red Foxes (4-7) were tied at 3-3 through six innings before the visitors scored three runs in the seventh inning for the victory. Longwood and Marist of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) will continue a four-game weekend series on Saturday, March 13, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m..

Marist scored two runs in the third inning courtesy of two hits, including an RBI single from Bryce Nugent (2-3, 2 RBI), and an error in the field for the early 2-0 advantage. Longwood, however, answered with two runs in the bottom of the third with two outs as senior Phil Cerreto/Midlothian (Midlothian) (1-5, 2 RBI) delivered a two-run double down the right field line. The Red Foxes added a run in the fifth as John Prano (1-3) was hit-by-a-pitch and stole second base before moving to third on a wild pitch and continuing home during a run-down play between first and second base. The Lancers promptly responded again with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a clutch, two-out RBI single by junior Brant Jones/Richmond (Monacan) (1-3, RBI) to tie it at 3-3.

Marist scored three runs on three hits in the seventh that proved the difference in the outcome, the big hit being a two-run triple to the center field wall by Michael Gallic (2-4, 3 RBI). Nugent added a sacrifice fly to right field during the at bat as well. The Lancers tried to rally back late but stranded five baserunners over their final three at bats, including two in the seventh, two in the eighth, and one in the ninth. Senior Robbie Bailey/Mechanicsville (Hanover) (4-5) and classmate Scott Kimble/Spotsylvania (Spotsylvania) (3-4) led LU at the plate with four and three hits, respectively.

Junior Chris Briere/Midlothian (James River) (1-1) took the pitching loss with the first 6.1 innings, allowing seven hits and five runs, three earned, with two strikeouts and one walk.

Kyle Putnam (2-1) collected the mound win for Marist, pitching the first 7.2 innings, scattering 12 hits and three runs, all earned, with no strikeouts and two walks. Sean McKeown (1) earned the save for the Red Foxes with the final 1.1 shutout inning, yielding one hit.