3.11.2012

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University rallied for a 13-9 come-from-behind baseball victory past visiting Niagara University of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Sunday afternoon at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville.  The Lancers (10-6) had taken an 8-5 lead after six innings before the Purple Eagles (7-7) scored four runs in the eighth to lead 9-8, but the hosts answered with five runs in the eighth to secure the win and avoid a series sweep.  Sophomore captain Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) collected three hits, including the game-winner, and two RBI, while classmate Alex Owens|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) and freshman Conner Hall|Mechanicsville (Atlee) each had three RBI.  Freshman Aaron Myers|Newport News (Denbigh) earned the pitching win in late relief.  Longwood will play again on Wednesday, March 14, hosting in-state opponent George Mason University of the Colonial Athletic Association at Bolding Stadium in Farmville at 3 p.m.
   
Longwood fell behind 1-0 in the first inning as Niagara got an RBI single from Eric Hink (3-4, 3 RBI), but the Lancers answered with two runs in the second as Owens (2-2, 3 RBI) provided an RBI double and Hall (1-4, 3 RBI) plated a run with a ground-ball out.  Longwood added another run in the third to lead 3-1 when freshman Joey Varaksa|Charlottesville (Albemarle) (4-4, RBI), four-for-four on the day with an intentional walk, hit a run-scoring double as well.  The Purple Eagles scored in the fourth to make it 3-2 on a sacrifice fly by Jon Wilson (0-3, RBI), and the visitors added two runs in the fifth to lead 4-3 after an RBI double by Hink and a run-scoring single from Wynton Bernard (1-5, RBI).
   
Longwood, however, responded and scored three runs in the fifth to lead 6-4 after another RBI double by Owens and a two-run double from Hall.  Niagara closed to 6-5 with an unearned run in the sixth via a passed ball, but the Lancers plated two runs in the sixth to lead 8-5 as senior captain Robby Newman|Virginia Beach (Salem) (3-4, 2 RBI) hit a one-out, no doubt two-run home run to left field -- his third this season and 19th homer of his career.  The Purple Eagles went back in front with four runs in the eighth while getting RBI singles from both Adam Wagner (4-5, RBI) and Hink before Ryan McCauley (2-4, 2 RBI) hit a two-run double and a brief 9-8 advantage.
   
Longwood, though, once-again had an answer and scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the much-deserved and exciting home field win.  Owens drove in the first run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to tie it at 9-9.  Following a walk and a pinch-hit strikeout, the bases were loaded again with two outs when Dickason (3-6, 2 RBI) hit a single through the left-side to push two more runs across the plate.  Freshman Travis Biddix|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) (1-6, 2 RBI) followed with a two-run double for a pair of insurance runs.  Junior Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) (2-4) also had two hit in the contest for the Blue & White.
   
Myers (1-0) gained the pitching win for Longwood with 2.1 innings, yielding five hits and four runs, all earned, with one walk and three strikeouts.  Freshman Zach Jordan|Hopewell (Matoaca) started for the Lancers and went the first 4.1 innings, scattering six hits and four runs, three earned, with one walk and three strikeouts.
   
Geoff Soja (1-2) took the mound loss for Niagara, facing three batters in the eighth and allowing two hits and three runs, all earned, with one walk and no strikeouts.