3.23.2012

BOX SCORE GAME ONE

BOX SCORE GAME TWO

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University was swept in a baseball doubleheader by visiting Ivy League member Cornell University Friday evening at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville.  The Lancers (11-12) fell in the first game 4-3 as the Big Red (12-4) scored two runs in the ninth inning, before falling in the second game 3-1.  Longwood was led by freshman Joey Varaksa|Charlottesville (Albemarle) with three hits, and junior Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) with two hits and an RBI in the opener, while freshman Brandon Delk|Newport News (Warwick) hit his first career home run in the nightcap.  Senior captain Matt Gwaltney|Chesterfield (Motoaca) and junior Kyler Morgan|Lancaster, Pa. (Lampeter-Strasburg) took the respective complete-game pitching setbacks.  Longwood and Cornell are scheduled to complete the four-game series on Saturday, March 24, at Bolding Stadium in Farmville at 1 p.m.

In game one, Longwood took an early 1-0 lead in the first as sophomore captain Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) (1-5) led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Travis Biddix|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin)?(0-4), and scored on an RBI single from Lacy (2-4, RBI).  Cornell plated two runs in the fourth to lead 2-1 after Brian Billigen (2-4) singled and later scored via a fielding error in right field on a single by Chris Cruz (1-4), and Cruz scored ahead of a teammate caught stealing that involved a run-down between first and second base.

The Lancers went back in front 3-2 with two runs in the sixth on a pinch-hit, two-run single by sophomore Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) (1-1, 2 RBI) that scored both Lacy and sophomore Alex Owens|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (0-3) who had walked and been hit by a pitch, respectively.  The Big Red, however, rallied with two runs in the ninth for victory as Billigen led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Kevin Tatum (1-3, RBI), and Tatum later crossed the plate with the decisive run on a two-out delayed steal play.

Gwaltney (0-2) took the tough-luck mound loss with the 9.0 innings, scattering nine hits and four runs, three earned, with one walk and six strikeouts.  Varaksa (3-4) had three hits in the game, while Lacy extended his hitting streak to 15 games, and his reaching base streak to 19 games, though each was stopped in the nightcap.

Eric Upton (1-1) gained the pitching win with 2.2 innings of late scoreless relief, yielding three hits with no walks and three strikeouts.  Kellen Urbon (3) earned the save with the final 1.0 shutout inning, allowing no hits and no walks.

In game two, Cornell scored a run in the second via a rare inside-the-park home run by Cruz (2-3, 2 RBI) on a sinking line drive that got by a diving centerfielder and did not stop until it hit the wall.  The Big Red made it 3-0 in the fourth as Cruz added a run-scoring triple, and Tatum (2-3, RBI) contributed an RBI single.

Longwood got on the scoreboard in the fifth when Delk (1-2, RBI) hit the first home run of his career with a two-out, towering drive to left field.  Owens (1-3) and Biddix (1-3) were the only other players with a hit in the game for the Lancers.  Morgan (2-3) took the hard-luck mound loss with the 7.0 innings, scattering six hits and three runs, all earned, with one walk and five strikeouts.

Brent Jones (4-0) gained the pitching win with the three-hit, complete-game 7.0 innings, allowing one run, earned, with one walk and eight strikeouts.