FARMVILLE, VA. – Longwood sent 10 men to the plate in a second-inning rally that plated six runs as the Lancers scored a season high 11 runs to down Norfolk State, 11-9, Tuesday evening at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
The Lancers entered the game without a single run scored in the second inning in 2016, but Tuesday's second inning turned in six runs, the most Longwood (14-11, 3-3 Big South) has scored in a single frame on the season. The Lancers had as large as an 8-1 lead in the win over Norfolk State (9-13, 3-2 MEAC).
 
"I thought we did a great job early in the game at the plate," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said after his Lancers put together their highest scoring output of the season. "I liked the way we stayed on the attack and the final score proved that we needed every run today."
 
Alex Lewis led all batters with four hits in the win, tied for the most any Lancer has had in a game, and it was Lewis' ninth multi-hit game of the year, most on the team. The junior made his first start at third base on the season and provided the Lancers with a 4-for-5 game with three RBI, a stolen base, a double, and two runs scored.
 
"I thought Lewis hit the ball on the screws every time," Mau said. "I thought he had five outstanding at-bats and he continues to swing the bat well for us. He's exceeding expectations this year. He's delivering in the clutch, he's putting together great at-bats every time, and we're rallying behind him."
 
The three-RBI performance brought Lewis' team-leading RBI total to 28 and the four hits upped his batting average to a team-best .360 (32-for-89).
 
Eight of the nine starters for Longwood reached base safely in the win. At the plate the Lancers set a season high with 11 walks drawn and tied a season high with five steals in the victory.
 
Janos Briscoe was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time as the designated hitter Tuesday and went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and a two-run single in the fifth inning.
 
"It was great to see [Briscoe] back in the lineup," Mau said. "I thought he did a good job of seeing pitches, he drew a couple of walks, and he had a big hit. It was a two-out hit and ultimately it was the difference tonight."
 
After an intentional walk to Connar Bastaich loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Briscoe came through with a single that produced two runs on his first hit of the season and gave Longwood an 11-5 lead. The junior outfielder had only made three pinch-hitting appearances and was 0-for-3 at the plate before getting the start Tuesday.
 
Allen Ellis (1-0) made his season debut for Longwood, picking up the win after pitching 1.1 innings of two-run ball out of the bullpen. Ryan Jones nailed down the save, his second, by striking out the only two batters he faced in the top of the ninth inning. Chase Anderson (3-2) was stuck with the loss after surrendering seven runs, six earned, in 2.0 innings with five walks to one strikeout.
 
"It was good to see Ellis back on the mound," Mau said. "Ellis came in and got us out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning. It's great to see him back out there. Jones doing what he did, doing what he does, by coming in and closing it down was great. He did an outstanding job spinning the breaking ball for strikes."
 
The senior righty, Ellis, became the pitcher of record after getting Longwood through the fifth inning, stranding the bases loaded. Longwood starter Cameron Trichka did not factor into the decision in his first start of the season.
 
"I thought Trichka did a good job of getting us deep into the ballgame and just ran out of gas there in his first collegiate start," Mau said.
 
Trichka worked 4.1 innings and allowed five runs, four earned, with four walks and tied his season high with five strikeouts. The appearance was Trichka's ninth of the season, the previous eight were out of the bullpen.
 
The second inning was a wild one for Longwood. The Lancers plated six runs on four hits with one error and drew three walks in the home half of inning number two.
 
"We took advantage of some free passes in that second inning," Mau said. "We strung together three doubles back-to-back-to-back in the middle of our lineup and that's what really led to the big inning."
 
Drew Kitson started the madness in the second inning with a triple and scored on an RBI off the bat of Carlos Garrido, who reached on a fielding error. After Brandon Harvell put down a sacrifice bunt and Sammy Miller walked, C.J. Roth, Michael Osinski, and Lewis each doubled and Longwood held a 7-1 lead. Bastaich and Briscoe each walked as the Lancers batted around in the half inning. Longwood and Norfolk State were tied at one entering the frame.
 
The big second inning was one of four scoring innings for Longwood in a game that saw a combined 20 runs, 20 hits, and 42 total baserunners.
 
Roth joined Lewis in the hit parade with a pair of his own, picking up two RBI on his double in the second inning. Roth was the only other Lancer with multiple hits in the win and was 2-for-4 with a walk, a steal, and two runs scored.
 
For Norfolk State, Roger Hall led the way with three hits, all singles, in a 3-for-4 game. The junior drove in a run, scored a run, and drew a walk for the Spartans.
 
Going into the game Tuesday, Longwood mixed up the starting lineup offensively with Briscoe making his first start of the season and shook things up defensively with Lewis at third base and Harvell making his second career start in left field.
 
"Defensively I thought [Lewis and Harvell] did fine," Mau said. "We went with more of an offensive lineup today. It was great to see Lewis in the field."
 
With the win the Lancers improved to 5-3 against teams from the state of Virginia in 2016 and improved to 31-16 all-time against Norfolk State. The Lancers will play a single game at Norfolk State April 26, a 5 p.m. scheduled start time.
 
Longwood concludes its five-game homestand and the final game of its six-game stretch against in-state competition when the Lancers host VMI Wednesday evening. Junior righty Tyler Wirsu (0-1) is expected to get the start for Longwood opposite of right-hander Nathan Eaton (1-0) for the Keydets. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
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