For immediate release—3/26/2014-#275
Late Comeback Pushes Hornets past Hampden-Sydney
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA—The Lynchburg College baseball team scored two runs in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings before pushing two more across in the 10th to pick up a 10-9 victory over Hampden-Sydney College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action Wednesday afternoon.
The Hornets plated two runs in the second on a Lincoln Evans double and two more in the fourth on a solo home run by Jake Tanner and RBI double from Joe Rogers. Lynchburg pulled ahead again in the seventh, taking a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning.
Zac Patrick was dealing early, facing just one batter over the minimum through three innings. The Tigers offense came alive against the senior in the eighth as 11 batters came to the plate. By the time the inning had ended, the Tigers had plated seven runs against Patrick, Pat Harris and Brandon Miller to take an 8-6 lead.
Hampden-Sydney turned to Aaron Stidham to try to collect the save against the top of the Hornet order. After getting Rob Tomasulo to fly out, Dustin Arrowood and Jay Kenyon singled to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.
Wil Parsons took several pitches, one that got away from the catcher to allow Arrowood to move to third. The Hornet third baseman was then plunked by Stidham's pitch to load the bases. Joe Tomasulo hit a fly ball out to left that scored Arrowood to get the Hornets within a run, 8-7, with one out to work with.
A wild pitch moved Kenyon and Parsons up 90 feet where Stidham walked Tanner to load the bases. Coach Percy Abell turned to the bench, calling on freshman KC Caldwell to pinch hit. Caldwell, who has shown the ability to work deep into at bats, drew the bases loaded walk to tie the game.
Hampden-Sydney had Christian Hamlett and Jeff Gray reach to lead off the bottom of the ninth, but Miller induced a fly ball to right field for the first out. Lee Carneal followed with a hard-hit groundball to third that Parsons smothered, touched the bag and threw to first for the inning-ending double play.
Rogers started the 10th with a single before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a passed ball. Arrowood doubled in Rogers for his lone RBI on the afternoon before Kenyon flew a ball to right for the second out. Parsons continued where he left off in the field with a single that plated Arrowood for a 10-8 lead.
Miller (5-3) came out for the bottom of the 10th and sandwiched a pair of singles around a strike out of Ryan O'Hara. Spencer Wiles flew out to left to move the Hornets one out closer to victory, but Hunter Lewis stepped into the box and singled in Reggie Johnson who led off the inning with a hit.
Lynchburg turned to Colton Steber out of the bullpen when forced Hamlett into a fielder's choice to pick up his third save of the season.
Rogers, Rob Tomasulo and Arrowood had three hits each for the Hornets while the latter added three runs. Parsons led the Hornets with three RBI as Evans contributed two from the leadoff spot.
Wiles had three hits and four RBI for Hampden-Sydney (19-7/3-4) while Lewis and Hamlett each added three base knocks.
Lynchburg (15-4/4-3) travels to Eastern Mennonite University (12-12/0-8) in an ODAC doubleheader scheduled for noon.