For immediate release – 2/25/2015 - #282
Comeback Falls Short as Averett Downs Hornets 7-6 in 10 Innings
DANVILLE, VA –The Lynchburg College baseball team came back from a 6-1 deficit to force extra innings before ultimately falling 7-6 to Averett University in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon.
Averett jumped out to a quick start in the first inning after forcing the Hornets to leave the bases loaded in the top half of the frame. A walk, hit by pitch, and bunt single put Cougars on every base despite a ball not leaving the infield. Alvarez provided the big hit with an RBI double to right that scored two Averett runners before a Drew Evans' sacrifice fly garnered the home team a 3-0 lead.
Lynchburg turned to Martin Henderlite in the second inning after the first two Cougars got hits. The senior held Averett to just one run, allowing the Hornets to cut the deficit back to three on a Joe Rogers RBI groundout in the top of the third.
The Hornets held the Cougars scoreless in the bottom of the frame, but several big hits extended the lead to 6-1 in the fourth. Kyle Vidano singled in the fourth and one batter later Taylor Davis launched a ball deep over the right-field wall.
Brandon Miller entered in the fifth inning and held Averett scoreless for the next five frames to give the Lynchburg hitters the opportunity to come back in the game.
Miller (0-3) finished the day with his best performance of the 2015 season. He went 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts while giving up one run on four hits and issuing one walk.
The Hornets used patience to get back into the game in the fifth inning. Drew Taylor led off the frame with a single and stole second before Rogers and Jonathan Munn earned walks to load the bases. The pressure fell on the Cougars with nowhere to put KC Caldwell following the Munn walk. Caldwell worked the count and picked up an RBI without swinging the bat as another work cut the score to 6-2. A Rob Tomasulo sacrifice fly in the next at bat scored Rogers for a 6-3 deficit.
LC got within one run in the sixth inning as Will Hylton and Taylor singled, scoring on a Rogers single to right field.
Once again, it was Rogers causing disruption in the eighth frame when he worked a two-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Munn continued his hot start to the season, doubling Rogers home to tie the game and force extra innings.
Following five shutout innings by Miller, Averett pieced together just enough hits in the 10th to win the contest.
Evans singled and stole second, moving to third on a McLaughlin single where Nic Futrell's lofted fly ball to right could plate the winning run.
Rogers went 1-for-4 for Lynchburg with two runs scored and three RBI.
Vidano, Davis and Evans all had two hits for Averett (2-3).
Lynchburg (1-6) will host Eastern University Friday, March 6 for a noon doubleheader.