COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It's hard to imagine a much better start to the 2015 campaign and the Ryan Mau era for Longwood. The Lancers scored early and often on their way to an 8-2 opening day victory over Tennessee Tech, a 40-win ballclub from 2014.

Kryi Washington blasted not one, but two home runs at Bush Stadium on Friday afternoon to ignite the Lancers in support of Big South Preseason Pitcher of the Year Aaron Myers (1-0). Washington sent back-to-back, opposite field shots over the right field wall to notch three RBI on his 2-for-5 day.

Myers, meanwhile, fanned six Golden Eagles while walking one in a solid 6.1 innings of work. The 6-3, 225-pound right-hander surrendered just four hits and a single run against a Tennessee Tech team that led the nation in scoring last season. The Lancers welcomed Myers to the game by giving the ace a 1-0 lead courtesy of a two-out single from cleanup hitter Brandon Delk in the top of the first.

Delk's knock was the first of five two-out hits and one of 11 on the day for the Lancers (1-0), who plated four of their eight runs with two away.

"It was an exciting opening day and I am very proud of how our team competed," said Mau. "That is a good Tennessee Tech team and it was a great win for us."

Longwood (1-0) wasted no time, jumping out to a 1-0 advantage in its first at-bat of the new season. Coach Mau promised an aggressive approach on the base paths and it paid off in the top of the first. C.J. Roth led off the game with a double and promptly stole second base. The steal allowed the Lancers to avoid a double-play ball and Roth to move to third on Connar Bastaich's ground out. With two outs, senior Brandon Delk stepped up and laced an RBI-single down the left field line. The Lancers never looked back, maintaining their lead the entire game.

The beneficiary of the early lead, Aaron Myers was his usual self on the mound. The senior worked out of a first-inning jam after Tennessee Tech used a pair of singles from leadoff man Jake Farr and All-American Dylan Bosheers as well as a wild pitch to put runners at second and third. Myers induced a pop-up to strand the Golden Eagles in scoring position.

After the slightly rocky first, Myers (1-0) responded by retiring 11 of the next 12 batters, setting the tone for the season opening victory. Myers would finish the game with 6.1 innings of work, allowing a single run on four hits. The lone blemish on Myers line came on a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth off the bat of Tyler Brazelton. Myers reeled off four consecutive outs after the homer to end his night with a quality start in the books.

"Aaron did a great job of settling down after the first inning and was able to keep a tough lineup off balance," Mau said. "I thought he made some big pitches and commanded the fastball very well today."

With Myers dealing on the mound, the Lancers made sure to capitalize at the plate. Longwood would strike for two more runs in the fourth, where Alex Lewis got the attack rolling with a one-out double. Designated hitter Travis Biddix drew a walk from Tennessee Tech starter John Gora and Mac McCafferty followed by being hit, loading the bases for the Lancers. After Brandon Harvell brought home Lewis with a sacrifice fly, center fielder Colton Konvicka ripped an RBI double to left center.

Longwood was not done piling up run support for its ace. In the top of the fifth, Connar Bastaich led off with a single back through the box. Bastaich wouldn't have to wait long on the base paths, as Kyri Washington took a curveball the opposite field for his first home run of the year.

Washington wasn't done either. Two innings later, the junior slugged his second homer of the day, this time blasting a fastball the other way for a solo bomb to make it 6-1 Longwood. It was a great way for the slugger to open the season, finishing 2-for-5 on the day with three RBI.

"Kyri had a heck of a day for us," said Mau. "Everyone knows he has pull power and it was great to see him stay balanced and drive the ball the other way."

While Washington provided the fireworks, several Lancers made big contributions at the plate. Seven players had a hit, with four members of the blue and white having multi-hit games.
"We had several guys step up with some big hits in clutch situations," said Mau. "Connar had some good at-bats and executed situationally for us by moving C.J over early. Lewis smashed a double in the fourth, Harvell hit a big sac fly and Colton delivered a big two-out double."

With Longwood ahead 6-2 headed to the final frame, the Lancers put Tennessee Tech away courtesy of a 2-out, 2-RBI double off the bat of senior co-captain Travis Biddix. It was the fifth 2-out hit of the day for the blue and white, something that made skipper Ryan Mau proud.

"Kyri's two blasts gave us the cushion we needed and Biddix delivered with a two-out, two-RBI double in the ninth to put it out of reach," said Mau. "We did a great job of coming up with big two-out hits all day long."

 With the Lancers leading 6-1, upon Myers exit in the bottom of the seventh, Longwood turned to sophomores Ryan Jones and Mitchell Kuebbing to close the game out. Jones pushed through a rocky start, including giving up the Golden Eagles' second run in his first inning of work. The sidewinding righty would return for the eighth and fanned Tech's five-hole hitter, Jordan Hopkins, to strand a runner at second.

Kuebbing would come on in the ninth to polish off the victory, working an easy 1-2-3 inning to send Longwood to 1-0. While it was not a save situation, the Lancers' probable closer was sharp in his 2015 debut.

"I thought Jones really battled for us and made a big time 3-2 pitch to retire the threat in the eighth," said Mau. "Then Mitch looked good in a quick 1-2-3 ninth to finish it."

A new season and a new era of Longwood baseball is officially underway after the Lancers picked up the 8-2 victory in coach Mau's debut as a skipper. Yet for Mau, as sweet as the inaugural win is, it's time to turn attention to a doubleheader on Saturday.

"This win is one that I will always cherish," said Mau. "But for now, we have to put it behind us and get ready for tomorrow's doubleheader."

Due to frigid temperatures which are forecast to remain below freezing all-day Sunday, the Lancers and Golden Eagles will conclude the opening series in a Saturday twin-billing. Game one is set for a noon (EST) start.