Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Tweet #lancerstrong

DURHAM, N.C. -- Longwood University dropped a non-conference baseball doubleheader on the road at North Carolina Central University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tuesday evening at Durham Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina, falling 5-4 in game one and 10-0 in game two.  Junior Alex Owens/Purcellville had three hits, including a home run, and three RBI in the opener for the Lancers (11-14).  Ronald Thompson had four RBI and Ruben Rios Jr. pitched a complete game four-hit shutout in the nightcap for the Eagles (18-9).  Longwood will play at Big South Conference North Division opponent and in-state archrival Liberty University for a three-game weekend series on March 29-30 in Lynchburg.  The Lancers and Flames will play on Friday at 6 p.m. and on Saturday at 1 p.m., the latter a doubleheader.     
   
In game one, Longwood took an early 1-0 advantage with a run in the first inning via the fourth home run of the season by Owens (3-4, 3 RBI). 
   
North Carolina Central, who has won nine-straight games, scored three runs on four hits, including RBI singles from Troy Marrow (1-3, RBI) and Carter Williamson (2-3, RBI), in the first to lead 3-1.
   
Longwood added a run in the fifth to make it 3-2 after and RBI single by Owens that scored sophomore Kenny Cassidy/Chesapeake (2-4, RBI), who had singled to open the at bat. 
   
NCCU also scored in the fifth to lead 4-2 after an RBI single from Zach Lee (2-4, RBI).
   
Longwood made it 4-3 with a run in the sixth, courtesy an RBI ground ball from Cassidy to plate freshman Kyri Washington/Prospect (2-4), who had doubled.  The Lancers added another run in the seventh to tie it at 4-4 when Owens added a run-scoring double to score freshman Colton Konvicka/Richmond (2-5), who had led-off with a single.
   
NCCU, however, scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning as Robert Hiatt (0-3, RBI) drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk to score Marrow, who had walked with one out.
   
Freshman Travis Burnette/Lynchburg (2-3) pitched 1.1 innings for Longwood in late relief for the loss, allowing one hit and one run, earned, with one walk and one strikeout.  Classmate Joe Manion/Midlothian had started and tossed the first 6.0 innings for the Lancers, yielding eight hits and four runs, all earned, with one walk and one strikeout.  Freshman Dylan Caruso/Appomattox pitched two-thirds of an inning, walking two.
   
Jacob Russell (3-1) pitched 1.0 scoreless inning for NCCU for the win, yielding two hits with one strikeout.  Gavin Guarrera (7) tossed the final shutout inning to earn the save, allowing one hit with one strikeout.
   
In game two, NCCU scored five runs in the first inning and five runs in the sixth inning for the win and sweep of the twinbill.  Thompson (1-4, 4 RBI) Akeem Hood (2-4), Lee (2-3), Luis Diaz (2-3, RBI) and Williamson (1-3, 2 RBI) each contributed to the Eagles' 10-hit attack, though none were for extra bases.  Rios (1-0) pitched the complete 7.0 innings, scattering four hits with no walks and one strikeout.
   
Junior Scott Burkett/Williamsburg (2-3) and sophomore Brandon Delk/Newport News (2-2) each had two hits for Longwood, including two doubles by Burkett and one double from Delk.  Freshman Blake Ream/Yorktown (2-4) started on the mound for the Lancers, but did not record an out while facing five batters, allowing two hits and five runs, four earned, with one walk and no strikeouts.  Sophomore Tyler Wislocki/Annandale pitched 5.1 innings of relief, scattering seven hits and four runs, three earned, with one walk and three strikeouts.