For immediate release – 2/15/2013 - #243
Hot Hitting Sparks 7-2 Victory Over #6 Birmingham Southern
DEMOREST, GA – The Lynchburg College baseball team batted around in the second inning, plating five runs, on its way to a 7-2 victory over #6 Birmingham Southern in the first game of the Piedmont College Tournament.
Birmingham Southern scraped across a run in the first inning after sophomore starter Brandon Miller retired the first two Lions he faced. Right fielder Jacob Mayfield doubled in front of a Jeremy Hatney RBI single before Miller forced Ethan Netherton into a fly out to left to end the threat with the Hornets trailing 1-0.
Lynchburg gave Miller all the insurance he would need in the second inning as the Hornets batted around, taking a 5-1 lead in the process.
Following a fly out by junior Dustin Arrowood, sophomore Rob Tomasulo singled. Preoccupied with Tomasulo, pitcher Kyle Royalty balked, allowing him to move into scoring position where he would come home on a single by junior Jake Tanner. Sophomore Lincoln Evans walked and senior Ashton Paige reached on an error to load up the bases for senior Michael Kenah.
Kenah gave the Hornets their first lead, singling home Tanner and Evans for a 3-1 LC advantage. Back-to-back RBI singles from seniors Dan Savage and Brock Shiflett extended the Hornet lead to 5-1 heading into the bottom of the second inning.
The Hornets plated two more runs in the fifth as freshman Drew Taylor, seeing his first collegiate action, walked with one out. Evans singled before a throwing error allowed both runners to move into scoring position. Paige hit a deep sacrifice fly to move the runners 90 feet further, scoring Taylor in the process. Following a walk to Kenah, a double steal sent Evans home for the seventh run.
Miller pitched a complete game for the Hornets (1-2), his second in as many attempts. The sophomore scattered two runs on seven hits while striking out seven and not surrendering a walk.
Seven different Hornets collected hits, led by two apiece from Shiflett and Tanner. Kenah had two RBIs for LC while Evans scored two runs.
Lynchburg will play Piedmont College, hosts of the tournament, on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.