SAVANNAH, Ga. – Antwaun Tucker's five-RBI game keyed a huge offensive effort by the Lancers as Longwood earned a sweep and beat Savannah State, 15-13, Sunday afternoon at Tigers Baseball Field.
Tucker finished the game 2-for-5 with a career-best five RBI in the win. Tucker broke the game open with a three-run triple that capped off Longwood's six-run seventh inning and gave the Lancers (5-7) a 13-7 lead. The five-RBI day by Tucker, a freshman, is tied with
Michael Osinski for the most in a single game by a Lancer this season.
"What an effort by our offense today," Longwood head coach
Ryan Mau said. "They stayed focused all game long and kept stringing quality at-bats together."
The lead exchanged four times before the Lancers built a six-run lead that they protected down the stretch. Longwood got plenty of offense at Savannah State (6-6) picking up season highs in runs, hits, and RBI with 15 runs scored on 14 hits and 14 RBI. Every starter for Longwood reached safely at least once, the second consecutive game the Lancers have accomplished that feat.
The game swung in the seventh inning when the Lancers put together a six-run rally that followed a pair of multi-run innings in the middle innings. Savannah State scored four runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead, but a two-run single in the sixth by junior catcher
Mac McCafferty tied the game at seven.
In the seventh inning Osinski singled and then scored on a double to left by
Alex Lewis. After a wild pitch moved Lewis to third
Justin Mitchell singled and scored Lewis. Six batters later, the ninth man to hit in the inning, Tucker came up with the bases loaded and two outs when he tripled to center, plating three insurance runs for Longwood. The Lancers scored six runs in the seventh on five hits, helped along by two Savannah State errors.
"The seventh inning was impressive as we put together nine quality at-bats in a row," Mau said. "When you are able to do that, big numbers go up on the board."
McCafferty, who entered the game in the top of the sixth inning as a pinch hitter, went 2-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBI.
Sammy Miller also had a solid day at the plate, finishing 3-for-6 with a triple and two RBI. Hitting out of the nine, one, and two spots, McCafferty, Miller, and Tucker combined to go 7-for-13 with nine RBI, two triples, one double, and two runs scored.
Freshman
Scott Carter also had a big day at the plate. Carter, who ran for designated hitter
Joey Mendez in the fifth inning, went 2-for-2 and scored three runs. 10 of the 12 Lancers who recorded an at-bat scored at least once, while nine picked up a hit, and eight had at least one RBI.
While Savannah State committed four errors in the game, Longwood didn't commit any errors in the win.
"We played outstanding defense today and made some big time plays to help ourselves," Mau said.
It was the third error-free game of the season for Longwood and second in the last three games. The Lancers are 3-0 when they don't commit an error.
Cody Boydstun (2-1) picked up the win for Longwood after tossing 1.2 innings of relief, while Alex Wright (2-1) was hit with the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, in 1.0 inning of work out of the bullpen.
"It's always difficult going for a sweep on the road, but I am proud that we battled and found a way to get it done," Mau said.
The sweep is the first of the season for the Lancers, who play the next five games on the road with a pair of midweek games at USC Upstate and Wofford Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to UNC Wilmington for a three-game weekend series. First pitch at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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