March 7, 2010

BOX SCORE GAME ONE

BOX SCORE GAME TWO

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University split its second consecutive baseball doubleheader against visiting Niagara University at Bolding Stadium Sunday afternoon in Farmville, winning the first game 7-1 before falling in an extra inning in the second game 3-1 (8 innings). The Lancers (7-3) were led in the first game by seniors Phil Cerreto/Midlothian (Midlothian) with two hits and four RBI, and Casey Havers/Thorofare, N.J. (West Deptford) with three hits and an RBI, while senior Lance Harting/Ballston Spa, N.Y. (Ballston Spa) pitched four-plus strong innings of middle relief for the mound win. Longwood will be idle for a few days before playing again this upcoming weekend, March 12-14, hosting Marist College for another four-game weekend series at Bolding Stadium in Farmville.

In game one, Longwood scored three runs in the first inning, added two more runs in both the fourth and sixth before Niagara finally scored an unearned run in the eighth for the final six-run margin. In the first, senior Robbie Bailey/Mechanicsville (Hanover) (2-3) and junior Brant Jones/Richmond (Monacan) (2-4) each singled, scoring on a two-run double down the left field line by Cerreto (2-3, 4 RBI). Cerreto later scored on an RBI single from Havers (3-4, RBI). In the fourth, sophomore Robby Newman/Virginia Beach (Salem) (1-4) doubled to left to lead-off and senior Scott Kimble/Spotsylvania (Spotsylvania) (1-4) singled before another two-run double down the left field line, this time by senior David Smiy Jr./Chesterfield (Matoaca) (1-4, 2 RBI). In the sixth, freshman Justin Lacy/Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) (1-3) and Bailey reached on two-out singles before Cerreto once-again contributed a two-run double, again down the left field line as well.

Harting (2-0) earned the pitching win with 4.0-plus innings of middle relief, scattering two hits and one run, unearned, with five strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Carlos Cruz/Lexington Park, Md. (Great Mills) had started and pitched the first 3.0-plus scoreless innings, allowing two hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Sophomore Mark Montgomery/Williamsburg (Bruton) also tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with four strikeouts.

Matt Wietlispach (2-4) and Jason Cramer (2-4) led Niagara at the plate, while Bill Rafferty (0-3) took the mound loss with the first 3.1 innings, yielding seven hits and five runs, all earned, with three strikeouts and one walk.

In game two, Niagara scored a run in the first inning before Longwood added a run in the second inning during an old fashioned pitching duel. It remained tied at 1-1 through the scheduled seven innings before the Purple Eagles scored two unearned runs on throwing errors in the eighth to take the win. In the second, Smiy (1-3) reached on a two-out single and scored on an RBI double to right center from Bailey (2-5, RBI).

Freshman Michael Johnson/Chesapeake (Atlantic Shores Christian)?(1-1) took the tough luck pitching loss with an outstanding complete game effort of 8.0 innings, yielding six hits and three runs, one earned, with two strikeouts and three walks.

Brian Deering (3-4, RBI) led Niagara at the plate, including a two-out solo home run to left in the first inning, while Geoff Strong (1-0) earned the mound win in relief with the final 2.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits with no walks.