Box Score
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Junior
Brandon Delk/Newport News collected two hits and two RBI, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning, to lead Longwood University to a 6-4 victory in its 2014 season-opener at East Tennessee State University of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Sunday afternoon in Johnson City, Tennessee. Senior captains
Matt Dickason/Chesapeake and
Alex Owens/Purcellville each added two hits and an RBI, while junior
Aaron Myers/Newport News gained the pitching win for the Lancers (1-0) with the first 8.0 solid innings, and sophomore
Travis Burnette/Lynchburg earned the mound save with the final inning. Chris Riopedre had three hits and three RBI, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning, as well, to lead the Buccaneers (0-1), defending A-Sun Tournament Champions and NCAA Regional participants, while Clinton Freeman took the pitching loss with the first 6.2 innings. Longwood and ETSU are scheduled to play a doubleheader to complete the three-game series on Monday, February 17 at 12:05 p.m. in Johnson City, Tennessee.
"I'm very pleased with the effort and how our guys came out and played today after not being able to get on the field much and being cooped up in a hotel for a few days," said first-year Longwood head coach Brian McCullough, victorious in his debut with the Lancers. "The energy level was very high and I thought that our upperclassmen did a great job of leading the way for our younger players. Solid defense with timely hitting was the key to our success today. Aaron did not have his best stuff, but grinded it out for eight innings, which was huge for us with playing three games in two days."
ETSU took an early 2-0 lead with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second inning. Tyler Roach (1-4) singled to lead off and later scored on a one-out, RBI double by Zach Thompson (2-3, RBI), and Thompson crossed the plate on an RBI single by Riopedre (3-4, 3 RBI).
Longwood answered back in the top of the fourth inning with two runs on two hits to tie it at 2-2. Dickason (2-4, RBI) led off with a single and crossed the plate ahead of Delk (2-4, 2 RBI) on a two-run home run to left center field. It was the first homer of the season for Delk and the Lancers, and the ninth homer of his career.
The Buccaneers responded with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth, getting a two-out bunt single from Thompson, who scored ahead of Riopedre on another two-run home run to left center for a 4-2 advantage.
Longwood came right back with two more runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore
C.J. Roth/Yorktown (2-4) opened the frame with a triple to right center field and scored on a ground ball RBI from freshman
Brandon Harvell/Yorktown (1-3, RBI). Sophomore
Colton Konvicka/Richmond (2-4) followed with a single, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a two-out, RBI single by Dickason to make it 4-4.
The Lancers took the lead for the first time with two runs on two hits in the top of the seventh inning, aided by a throwing error. Harvell reached on a two-out single, stole second base and scored unearned courtesy of an errant throw by the third baseman that allowed Konvicka to reach base. He would score on an RBI double from Owens (2-4, RBI) for the 6-4 margin that would stand to the end.
ETSU did strand two runners in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Bucs also left a runner on base in the ninth.
Myers (1-0), who predominantly served in the closer role a year ago, started on the hill for Longwood and pitched the first 8.0 innings, scattering nine hits and four earned runs with seven strikeouts and no walks. Burnette (1) tossed the final 1.0 scoreless inning, yielding one hit and one walk.
Freeman (0-1) started for ETSU and pitched the first 6.2 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, three earned, with five strikeouts and no walks. Three others made an appearance in relief for the Bucs, including Will Chesney, who went 1.0 inning and allowed two hits and an unearned run with a strikeout.
