For immediate release – 4/5/2014 - #299
Hornets Spring Big Sixth Inning to Sweep R-MC
LYNCHBURG, VA – The No. 29 Lynchburg College baseball team dominated in a 16-0 game one victory before needing a five-run sixth inning to preserve an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) sweep with the 7-6 nightcap win.
With the pair of wins, Lynchburg (8-4 in ODAC play) leapfrogs Randolph-Macon (8-5 ODAC) for third place in the standings with three weeks left in the regular season.
The Hornets put the pressure on Randolph-Macon early in the first game as LC plated five runs.
Joe Rogers singled with one out before Rob Tomasulo reached on catcher's interference. Dustin Arrowood singled in Rogers before another defensive miscue cost Yellow Jacket starter, James Walsh, as Wil Parsons' fly ball to center field was dropped, allowing Tomasulo to score from third. Jay Kenyon added an RBI single while Jake Tanner drove in two more to stake the 5-0 advantage.
The first inning was enough to support Brandon Miller, who entered the game with eight consecutive scoreless innings. Miller allowed one hit in the first four frames as LC posted two runs in the second and one in the fourth for an 8-0 lead.
Rob Tomasulo connected on a double to right-center in the bottom of the fifth to plate Rogers and Lincoln Evans for a 10-0 advantage. Sixth-inning RBI singles from Jake Tanner and KC Caldwell paved the way for four more Lynchburg runs to assume a commanding 14-0 lead.
Miller (7-3) went the distance for the Hornets, giving up seven hits while striking out seven and walking two. He extends his consecutive inning scoreless streak to 17.
Tanner finished game one 4-for-5 with a run scored and five RBI while Arrowood added three hits, two runs and two RBI.
Randolph-Macon jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two but the Hornets were able to plate one in each of the first two frames to tie the game up going to the third.
The Yellow Jackets pulled ahead again in the third as Nicholas Maiolo singled through the left side to score Mitch Keeler. Sid Harvey grounded out to second in the fourth as Bryan Miltenberger raced home for a 4-2 lead for the visitors.
After going down quickly for the first two outs in the sixth, Macon worked a walk by James Womack, forcing a turn to the bullpen. A Harvey double and single from Christian Sanderson each plated runs for a 6-2 lead.
The R-MC lapses in defense made a return in the bottom of the sixth as Lynchburg loaded the bases without the benefit of a walk. Rob Tomasulo walked, Arrowood was hit by a pitch and Wil Parsons reached on a throwing error while trying to sacrifice himself for Jay Kenyon.
The Yellow Jackets turned to the relievers, bringing in Jake Bram who immediately struck out Kenyon. Joe Tomasulo hit a blooper to right field to score his brother Rob, cutting the lead to 6-3.
Tanner cut the lead to one with a single down the left-field line as Arrowood and Parsons raced home. One out later, Evans laced a ball to right to score the winning runs as Joe Tomasulo and Tanner crossed the plate.
Macon threatened to tie it up as Tim Benjamin doubled down the line in left to lead off the eighth. Following a sacrifice bunt that moved Benjamin within 90 feet of a tie, Trevor Johnston struck out Blake Saathoof with a back door breaking ball. Colton Steber entered to face a right-handed pinch hitter and induced a ground ball out.
Steber worked around one hit in the ninth to pick up his ODAC-leading fifth save of the season. Tanner went 2-for-4 in the second game with a pair of RBI, giving him seven for the day.
Keeler went 2-for-5 in game two after finished 3-for-3 in game one for Randolph-Macon (13-11/8-5). Maiolo and Nate Meiners each contributed a pair of hits in the second game.
#29 Lynchburg (19-5) travels to Ferrum College (18-11) for a 6 p.m. start Tuesday night. Ferrum is receiving votes in the latest poll.