For immediate release – 3/13/2013 - #298
Clutch Hitting, Bullpen Close Out Doubleheader Sweep for LC
LYNCHBURG, VA – The Lynchburg College baseball team got a timely double from sophomore Joe Rogers to win game one and a great bullpen effort courtesy of sophomore Charlie Thieringer to sweep Virginia Wesleyan College in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader, 5-3 and 6-3, Saturday afternoon.
The struggles that Lynchburg had against Guilford seemed to carry over in the early innings against Virginia Wesleyan Saturday as the Hornets fell behind 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Marlins struck first in the fourth inning when Kenneth Belgrave walked to lead off the frame. The senior disrupted LC on the base paths, making it to second before Josh Miller singled him home.
Senior Dan Savage doubled with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. A groundout moved Savage to third before sophomore Jay Kenyon walked to put runners on the corners. Kenyon took off for second and while the Marlin shortstop was applying the tag, Savage took off for the plate, scoring to tie the game at one.
Virginia Wesleyan took advantage of two Hornet errors in the sixth inning to plate two runs for a 3-1 lead.
Lynchburg took control of the game in the bottom of the inning courtesy of a leadoff walk to sophomore Lincoln Evans. Following a fly out, Savage singled and senior Brock Shiflett was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rogers ripped a 3-2 pitch down the left field line, plating all three runners, who were running on the pitch, for a 4-3 lead the Hornets would not relinquish.
Sophomore Martin Henderlite pitched seven innings for the Hornets, allowing three unearned runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out four.
Alex Tucci went the distance for Virginia Wesleyan (4-14/1-5), striking out a career-high eight Hornets.
The Hornets did not wait long to make an impact in game two, scoring a run in each of the first three innings for a 3-2 lead heading into the fourth inning.
Lynchburg pulled away from the Marlins in the fifth frame to take a 5-2 lead. Following a strikeout, Evans laced a line drive single off the third baseman before senior Michael Kenah doubled to opposite field, moving Evans to third.
Savage stayed hot after going 4-for-4 in game one, stinging a ball to left-center for a two-RBI single, extending the lead to three.
The Marlins tried to rally, cutting the lead to two in the seventh, but a homer over the wall in left-center by senior Ashton Paige extended it back to three, 6-3.
Sophomore Brandon Miller allowed two earned runs in the first to Virginia Wesleyan before the Hornets plated five unanswered. Miller finished his day giving up three runs, two earned, in seven innings while striking out five and walking two.
Sophomore Charlie Thieringer pitched the final two innings of both games for his second and third saves of the season. Thieringer struck out five batters in his four innings of work, surrendering a lone hit in the first game.
Savage ended the day 6-of-8 from the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Kenah, Shiflett, and junior Jake Tanner added three hits each for LC.
Lynchburg (11-8/4-3) travels to Guilford College (9-9/2-4) Tuesday for a 3 p.m. rematch in ODAC play.