Box Score
CLINTON, S.C. -- Nathan Chong had a home run and three RBI, while Ryan Hagan and Brad Zebedis each had two hits to lead Presbyterian College to a 4-0 Big South Conference baseball victory past visiting Longwood University Sunday afternoon in Clinton, South Carolina. Chandler Knox gained the pitching win with the first 8.0 outstanding innings for the Blue Hose (24-28, 10-11 Big South), who were able to savage one win during the weekend's three-game series. Freshman
Kyri Washington/Prospect had two hits for the Lancers (24-25, 12-12 Big South), while classmate
Travis Burnette/Lynchburg took the mound loss with the first 4.0 innings. Longwood will play its regular-season finale at Old Dominion University of the Colonial Athletic Association on Wednesday, May 15 at 6 p.m. in Norfolk.
Presbyterian scored two runs in the first inning to lead 2-0 after Jay Lizanich (0-2) walked and later scored on a wild pitch, and Aaron Preston (1-4), who had singled, also crossed the plate when Chong (1-3, 3 RBI) provided an RBI sacrifice bunt with the bases loaded. The Blue Hose added two more runs in the third inning to provide for what would be the final four-run margin. Robby Swab (1-2) singled to open the at-bat and scored ahead of Chong, who hit a one-out, two-run home run to left field.
Longwood stranded lone runners in each of the third, fourth, seventh and eighth innings before leaving two runners on base in the ninth inning. Sophomore
Conner Hall/Mechanicsville (1-3) singled with one out in the third and advanced as far as third base. Junior captain
Scott Burkett/Williamsburg (1-4) singled with two outs in the fourth, but made it no further. Washington (2-4) doubled with two outs in the seventh, but was stranded. Freshman
C.J. Roth/Yorktown doubled with two outs in the eighth, but was also left there. Junior
Alex Owens/Purcellville (0-4) walked with one out in the ninth and moved to second on a two-out single from Washington, before a ground ball ended the game.
Burnette (3-7) started and pitched the first 4.0 innings for Longwood, yielding five hits and four runs, all earned, with two walks and three strikeouts. The Lancers used four other pitchers in the contest, including freshmen
Tyler Wislocki/Annandale (1.0 scoreless inning, one hit),
Blake Ream/Yorktown (1.0 scoreless inning, two hits),
Joe Manion/Midlothian (1.0 scoreless inning, one hit) and
Dylan Caruso/Appomattox (1.0 scoreless inning, one hit).
Knox (5-5) started and pitched the first 8.0 shutout innings for Presbyterian, scattering four hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. Michael Ricchi tossed the final 1.0 scoreless inning for the Blue Hose, allowing the one hit and one walk.
Longwood has completed its first Big South regular season at .500 (12-12) in the league. It appears that the Lancers have secured one of the eight spots in the Big South Baseball Championship; however, one weekend of conference action remains before the league office officially announces the tournament field on Sunday evening, May 19. Longwood is one of five teams in position to earn one of the final four spots in the championship event.
