For immediate release – 2/6/15 - #238
Late Inning Comeback falls just short as Hornets Lose Opener
FAYETTEVILLE, NC – The Lynchburg College baseball rallied to get two men on base with no outs in the ninth inning, but managed just one run against the Christopher Newport University closer, falling 6-5 in the opening game of the Methodist Diamond Invitational.
The Captains led 6-4 heading into the top of the ninth and turned to closer Justin Garber. The hurler had the challenged of facing the heart of the Lynchburg order and nearly stumbled as Rob Tomasulo doubled to lead off the frame.
Jonathan Munn followed the double with an RBI single up the middle to keep the pressure on the Captains. Following a wild pitch, CNU walked Wil Parsons to set up the double play opportunity. Following a fielder's choice and strikeout, Garber was an out away from finishing off the Hornets. A wild pitch during Joe Tomasulo's at bat put runners on second and third but Lynchburg could not scrape together one more base knock to take the lead.
Martin Henderlite matched CNU's Joe Burris pitch-for-pitch through the first two innings before both teams plated runs in the third.
Lynchburg got on the board first as Ryan Katona walked with two outs. A fielding error during Lincoln Evans' at bat kept the inning alive for Joe Rogers who singled home Katona.
The Captains plated three in the bottom half courtesy of a walk, four singles and a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 edge.
Lynchburg tied it up again in the fourth inning on RBI singles by Jay Kenyon and Joe Tomasulo to chase Burris from the contest, but once more let the Captains take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
An error in the top of the sixth inning awarded Joe Tomasulo first base where Evans doubled him in for LC's second tie of the game at 4-4, but Newport manufactured one more tally in the bottom of the frame for the final lead.
Henderlite pitched five innings for Lynchburg, striking out three and surrendering four earned runs. Zack Engelmann and Nick Trio entered in the late innings for the Hornets and pitched scoreless frames with a strikeout each.
Kenyon and Munn each had a pair of hits as seven Hornets collected base knocks on the afternoon.
Jaxn Lane picked up the win for Christopher Newport (1-0) as Garber collected the save. Brandon Ginch went 3-for-4 at the dish with a pair of RBI.
Lynchburg (0-1) faces Methodist University (0-0) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the second day of the Diamond Invitational.