3.9.2012

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 10-9 baseball decision to visiting Niagara University of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Friday afternoon at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville.  The Lancers (9-4) tried to rally from deficits of 5-2 after five innings, and 9-3 in the seventh inning, only to fall one run short against the Purple Eagles (5-6).  Sophomore captain Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) collected three hits, including a home run and two doubles, with six RBI, while sophomore Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) also had three hits in the first of a four-game weekend series between the two schools.  Longwood and Niagara will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 10, at Bolding Stadium in Farmville at 1 p.m.
   
Longwood took an early 1-0 lead in the first when Dickason (3-6, 6 RBI) jumped on the first pitch and hit a towering drive down the left field line and off the foul pole for a solo home run -- his first of the season and second of his career.  Niagara tied it at 1-1 in the third when Ryan McCauley (4-4, 2 RBI) drew a bases-loaded walk.  The Lancers made it 2-1 in the third as junior Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) (1-3, RBI) singled to score freshman Travis Biddix|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) (1-5) who had singled as well.
   
The Purple Eagles added four runs in the fifth to lead for good, getting back-to-back home runs from Eric Hink (2-5, 2 RBI) and McCauley -- Hink's a two-run shot and McCauley's a solo homer -- before Evan Wexler (2-4, 2 RBI) added an RBI double.  Longwood got a run back in the sixth to trail 5-3 after Dickason reached on a fielder's choice that plated sophomore Alex Owens|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (1-4, RBI) who had walked.  NU came back with four more runs in the seventh on a run-scoring double by Joel Klock (1-4, RBI), a sacrifice fly from Wexler, and a pair of RBI singles by Thomas Rodrigues (1-5, RBI) and Adam Wagner (2-5, RBI).
   
Longwood again answered the visitors and scored four runs in the seventh as well.  Owens had an RBI single, as did freshman Joey Varaksa|Charlottesville (Albemarle) (2-2, RBI), while Dickason added a two-out, two-run double on a bases-loaded play that saw a runner thrown out at the plate.  Niagara added a final run in the eighth on a sac fly by Wynton Bernard (2-3, RBI) to lead 10-7, and it proved just enough as the Lancers battled back once-again with two runs in the ninth for the final one-run margin.  Varaksa drew a two-out walk that was followed by an infield single off the pitcher's glove from freshman Conner Hall|Mechanicsville (Atlee) (1-1) ahead of yet another clutch two-out, two-run double by Dickason.  The next batter, however, flied out to right field to end the game.
   
Junior Kyler Morgan|Lancaster, Pa. (Lampeter-Strasburg) (2-1) started for Longwood and pitched the first 4.0 innings, yielding nine hits and four runs, three earned, with two walks and two strikeouts for the loss.
   
Drew Fittry (3-0) started for Niagara and pitched the first 5.0 innings, scattering nine hits and three runs, all earned, with two walks and one strikeout for the win.  Kody Kasper (1) registered the final out with the tying run at second base for the save.