2.19.2011

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 22-10 baseball decision to visiting Cleveland State University of the Horizon League Saturday at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville. The Lancers (1-1) allowed seven runs in the fourth inning, five runs in the sixth inning, and six more runs in the eighth inning en route to the home setback. LU had a three-run fifth and a five-run seventh while led at the plate by freshman Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) with a two-run home run, and classmate Adam Blankinship|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) with a two-run double. The Vikings (1-1) were led by Chuck Gasti with two hits and six RBI, including a three-run homer. Longwood and Cleveland State will now complete the three-game weekend series on Sunday, February 20, at Bolding Stadium at 12 p.m.

Longwood led 1-0 through three innings with an unearned run in the second scored by freshman Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) (1-3, RBI) who had singled to lead-off. Cleveland State scored seven in the fourth on five key hits, including the three-run home run from Gasti (2-7, 6 RBI), a solo homer by Mike Norkus (2-4, RBI), and a three-run double from Alex Johnson (3-5, 3 RBI). The Lancers closed to within 7-4 with three runs in the fifth as sophomore Scott Laabs|Glen Allen (Deep Run) (0-4, RBI) contributed an RBI while reaching base on an error.

Cleveland State took control five runs in the sixth to lead 12-4 behind a two-run single by Gasti and a two-run single from Jason Haditsch (2-1, 2 RBI). Longwood added a run in the sixth as well on a ground-ball RBI from freshman Brian McBride|Manassas (Brentsville) (1-3, RBI). The Vikings plated two runs in the seventh before the Lancers scored five runs in the same inning behind the clutch hits by both Blankinship (2-2, 2 RBI) and Dickason (2-5, 2 RBI), along with an RBI single from junior Matt Gwaltney|Chesterfield (Matoaca) (1-2, RBI). CSU closed-out the scoring with six runs in the eighth, and two more runs in the ninth as Tyler Wynn (2-4, 3 RBI) provided a three-run home run and John Calhoun (1-5, 2 RBI) added a two-run double -- both in the eighth inning.

Sophomore Bobby Shelton|Forest (Jefferson Forest) (0-1) went the first 3.1 innings on the mound and took the Longwood pitching loss, allowing just one hit and three runs, all earned, with seven strikeouts and five walks. Shelton, though, was the most effective of five Lancers on the mound for the day.

Clayton Ruch (1-0) took the pitching win for Cleveland State with two-thirds of an inning in scoreless relief, allowing one hit. Anthony Sambula started for the Vikings and went the first 4.1 innings, yielding five hits and four runs, two earned, with three strikeouts and four walks.