For immediate release – 4/1/2014 - #290
Rogers Homers as Patrick Shuts out Hampden-Sydney
LYNCHBURG, VA – The No. 29 Lynchburg College baseball team led 1-0 heading into the eighth inning where a crucial two-run home run by junior Joe Rogers led the Hornets past Hampden-Sydney College 3-0 Tuesday in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action.
Zac Patrick faced just one batter over the minimum through three innings to assert his mound presence for Lynchburg.
Tiger starter Reggie Johnson was even better early, allowing a pair of singles through three frames, although the first was erased with a pick off and the second was caught stealing.
Lynchburg broke through in the fourth when Rogers picked up his ODAC-leading fifth triple of the season. Rob Tomasulo doubled in the next at bat to plate Rogers and give the Hornets a 1-0 lead.
Patrick made the 1-0 advantage hold up as the game moved into the late innings. The senior plunked Christian Hamlett with a pitch in the sixth, but he was the lone runner to reach base for the Tigers from the fifth inning on.
Patrick willed his Hornets on in the eighth as he struck out Andrew Tucker before getting Jackson Rogers to ground out to shortstop. Spencer Wiles, entering the game with a .449 batting average, grounded out to short to end the eighth.
Lynchburg got its insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as Lincoln Evans collected his team-leading 11th double with one out. Rogers, having already tripled earlier, cranked a hanging curveball from Billy Dixon deep over the left-center field wall for his second career homer.
Hunter Lewis worked a walk to lead off the ninth, forcing a change to closer Colton Steber, but the freshman sat down three of the next four Tigers to collect his fourth save of the year.
Patrick (4-1) worked eight innings of three-hit ball while striking out four and walking three. Rogers, Rob Tomasulo and Joe Tomasulo each had a pair of hits for Lynchburg.
Hornet starting pitchers have now worked 17-straight scoreless innings.
Johnson (2-1) went seven frames for Hampden-Sydney (21-8/5-5), allowing one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.
#29 Lynchburg (17-5/6-4) hosts Randolph-Macon College (12-8/7-2) Saturday at noon in a crucial ODAC doubleheader for both schools.