3.2.2011

BOX SCORE

DURHAM, N.C. -- Longwood University hit six home runs en route to a 16-6 baseball road win at North Carolina Central University Wednesday afternoon at the Durham Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina. The Lancers (5-5) won their third-straight game against the Eagles (0-9) while led offensively by freshman Alex Owens|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) with two home runs and five RBI, sophomore Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) with three hits, including a home run, and freshman Adam Blankinship|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) with three RBI. Longwood returns home to host Coppin State University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this weekend, March 4-5, at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville -- the three-game series beginning on Friday at 5 p.m.

Longwood pounded 16 hits at North Carolina Central, and scored four runs in the first, three runs in the fifth, one run in the sixth, three runs in the seventh, three runs in the eighth, and two runs in the ninth. Senior captain Brant Jones|Richmond (Monacan) (2-6, rbi) opened the game with a solo home run to left-center field. The Lancers added three more runs in their first at bat as junior Robby Newman|Virginia Beach (Salem) (2-5, 2 rbi) added a one-out, two-run homer to right field and freshman Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) (1-4, rbi) contributed a run-scoring ground out. Longwood scored three in the fifth as Owens (2-3, 5 rbi) hit a two-run home run to right field, and Blankinship (1-3, 3 rbi) added a sacrifice fly, while Owens hit a sacrifice fly to score a run in the sixth as well for an 8-5 lead.

Longwood took control with three runs in the seventh on a two-run home run to center field by junior Dustin Sollars|Midlothian (Cosby) (2-5, 2 rbi), and a solo homer to right-center field from Lacy (3-6, rbi). The Lancers added three more runs in the eighth as Burkett hit a sacrifice fly, and Blankinship hit a two-run double down the left field line. Owens finished the scoring in the ninth with his second home run of the game, another two-run blast to right field, for his team-leading third homer of the season. Freshman Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) (2-3) also had two hits for the visitors.

Freshman Kyle Hall|Reedville (Northumberland) (1-0) gained the Longwood pitching win in relief with 4.0 innings, scattering five hits and one run, earned, with a career-best eight strikeouts and no walks.

North Carolina Central was led offensively by Akeem Hood (3-5, 2 rbi) with three hits and two RBI, including a pair of run-scoring singles. Jaco Russell (0-2) started on the mound for the Eagles and took the loss with the first 4.0-plus innings, allowing eight hits and seven runs, six earned, with two strikeouts and five walks.