BOILING SPRINGS, NC. - Longwood exploded for five runs in the top half of the first inning Friday evening to help win game one over Gardner Webb. The Lancers (18-21, 5-8 Big South) plated 10 runs on 11 hits to power past the Bulldogs (13-24, 3-10 Big South) in game one of the weekend series 10-4.
Sean Gibbons came on in the second inning, and threw an outstanding game. He threw six innings, striking out seven, to help Longwood take the first game.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Sean Gibbons: 6.0 IP, 7 SO, 1 ER
Corbin McCloud: 3-4, 2 RBI, 1 R
Nathan Lancianese: 2-3, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2RBI
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first half of the first inning saw Longwood score five runs on four hits to jump out to a big lead.
Tanner Thomas,
Jared Glinski, and
Juice Tobin all drove in runs to help Longwood get out to a hot start.
Guillermo Garcia Jr. got the start for Longwood, and worked a quick bottom half of the first to get the Longwood bats back to the plate.
After Garcia Jr. got into trouble in the second,
Sean Gibbons entered the game. Gibbons was fantastic for the Lancers in his outing. He came on, and stranded one runner in the second, as Gardner Webb brought the game within two.
Gardner Webb cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the third on a solo shot courtesy of Peter Capobianco. From there Gibbons shut down the Bulldogs.
Gibbons worked 1-2-3 innings in both the fourth, fifth, and sixth to keep the game at a 5-4 Lancer lead.
In the seventh, Longwood added to its lead.
Nathan Lancianese led off with a double, and two batters later,
Hayden Harris blasted a ground rule double of his own to added some insurance. Longwood's lead grew to 7-4 when a run down occurred at third base.
Blagen Pado put a swift move on the catcher, and was ruled safe at the plate.
Gibbons worked a quick bottom of the seventh, and Longwood came back to the plate in the eighth with a 7-4 lead.
The Lancers did all of their damage in the eighth with two outs.
Juice Tobin ripped his second hit of the day over the left fielders head, and
Corbin McCloud drove him in a batter later.
Nathan Lancianese brought McCloud in three pitches later when he blasted his first home run of the season into the left field trees. When the damage was done Longwood had grown its lead up to 10-4.
Andrew Potojecki came on in the ninth to shut the door giving Longwood the game one win,
Sean Gibbons (1-1) earned the win for Longwood as Noah Arnett (0-2) took the loss.
WHAT THEY SAID:
"Big win for our guys today. Winning on Friday night is always a big one to help set yourself up for the rest of the weekend." Head coach
Chad Oxendine stated. "
Sean Gibbons was great for us today. He worked multiple pitches well, and was able to keep them off balance at the plate. Very proud of him and happy with what he was able to do today for us."
NOTABLES:
Nathan Lancianese hit his first career division one home run Friday afternoon.
UP NEXT:
Longwood and Gardner Webb continue their series Saturday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
