Box Score (HTML)GREENVILLE, N.C.—The Longwood Lancers (0-1) started the 2016 season out on the right foot, but the Lancers stumbled in the middle innings before East Carolina (1-0) ran away with the game, 11-1 at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
"It was a good game early on, but unfortunately we let it get away from us late," Longwood head coach
Ryan Mau said.
Senior RHP
Travis Burnette and ECU's Evan Kruczynski started off the game mowing down batters as each pitcher pitched a pair of hitless innings to start the day. Momentum shifted in favor of the Pirates when an error in the third inning led to a pair of ECU runs.
Turner Brown and Parker Lamm started off the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles. With one out a ball hit to shortstop had the potential to be an inning-ending double play, but an error on junior shortstop
Michael Osinski allowed a run to score and kept the frame alive. Bryce Harman singled home a run to double ECU's lead to 2-0.
The Pirates added a pair of runs in the fourth inning with a two out rally. On a payoff pitch with two outs Jeff Nelson was hit by pitch to give ECU a base runner. The next man up was Brown, who homered to right field and made it 4-0 ECU.
"I thought ECU did a good job taking advantage of our miscues," Mau said. "We can't give away extra outs, but especially to a team of their caliber."
Brown, the nine hitter, was the most productive of the ECU hitters and contributed to both of the two-run innings. The freshman finished the game 3-3 with three runs batted in and was a triple shy of the cycle in his collegiate debut.
Burnette (0-1, 6.75) battled, but took the loss. He went five and one-third innings, allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with one walk, one hit batter, and struck out five batters.
"Travis had all three pitches working today and was able to keep us within striking distance," Mau said. "Offensively we weren't able to figure out their lefty as his fastball command and change kept us off balance."
Kruczynski (1-0, 0.00) spun a gem for the Pirates. The junior lefty went seven innings and allowed just one hit while striking out four batters with one hit allowed.
Longwood was able to put together offense once Kruczynski was lifted.
Sophomore
Sammy Miller, who got the start in right field, doubled to start the top of the eighth inning and the senior second baseman
C.J. Roth brought Miller home with a single to left.
Roth finished the game 2-2 with a walk and the lone Longwood RBI.
After the Lancers got on the board ECU exploded for five runs in the bottom of the eighth to break the game open.
Five Lancers made their team debuts for the blue and white.
Junior outfielder
Drew Kitson started in left field, junior RHP
Cameron Trichka pitched the final one-third inning for the pitching staff, junior third baseman
James Barry pinch hit for
Alex Lewis in the ninth inning, freshman LHP
Jon Peterson replaced Burnette in the sixth inning on the mound, and freshman catcher
Carlos Garrido replaced junior
Mac McCafferty behind the plate as each made their Longwood debuts in the loss.
"We were able to get some new guys in the game late and will look to build off that experience," Mau said. "Although opening day didn't go our way, we still have two-thirds of the weekend remaining. We'll learn from today and quickly shift our focus to trying to even the series tomorrow."
The Lancers continue the three-game set at East Carolina with a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday. Jr. RHP
Tyler Wirsu (Apopka, Fla.) is expected to make his Longwood debut after transferring from Gordon State.
Game two of three at East Carolina is a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday.
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