The Longwood men's baseball team won four of their six games this past week and weekend, losing to George Washington, splitting two games with North Carolina Central, and sweeping UMBC in three games. Now, one win over .500, the Lancers will host William and Mary University tonight, April 4, at 6 p.m. before traveling down to North Carolina Central University this weekend to play a three-game series. In their three-game win over UMBC in Farmville this past weekend, Longwood dominated the first game, scoring 15 of their runs on 17 hits. Ending in a 15-4 victory, senior captain Robby Newman provided the most offensive power for the Lancers, acquiring two hits, a home run, and three RBI. Following Newman was sophomore Scott Burkett, who cashed in on one hit, one home run, and five RBI. Longwood's firepower in the first game reached an all-time high in the eighth inning when Burkett hit a line-drive, three-run home run over the wall in left. Following the threerun blast, the Lancers scored four more times during the inning, courtesy of a throwing error and a two-run single from sophomore Alex Owens. Junior Kyler Morgan pitched the first seven innings, allowing six hits, but striking out six, as well.
In their second game against UMBC that day, the Lancers had ten hits, but were only able to cash in on three of them. Fortunately, the three runs were all they would need, only allowing their opponent one in seven innings. The three Lancer runs all came in separate innings, two of the three as home runs. Newman prompted the scoring with his six home run of the season in the first inning, while junior Justin Lacy continued his hitting streak in the fourth with a home run of his own. In the fourth, sophomore Zach Mihalko doubled, knocking in Longwood's third and final run. Freshman Zach Jordan pitched four scoreless innings, and was followed by sophomore Ryan Schubert, who only allowed one run in the last three innings.
The Longwood men's baseball team would complete their three-game sweep this past Sunday, defeating UMBC 5-2. Yet again, Newman would start off the scoring with a lead-off home run in the first inning, his third in the past two days. After junior Justin Lacey scored during a run-down between first and second, Longwood would attain a 3-0 lead after a Newman single, scoring Mihalko. Immediately following two runs from UMBC in the sixth, the Lancers added two more of their own in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly from captain Matt Dickinson, and a Lacey RBI double. Freshman Aaron Myers pitched the final three innings of the game, and acquired his first collegiate save.
According to a press release from the Longwood Athletics Department, the Longwood men's baseball team is batting around .300 through 29 games, and has accumulated 15 home runs, four triples, and 62 doubles. Junior Justin Lacey leads the Lancers offensively with 13 multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games followed closely by senior Robby Newman with 11 multihit games and eight multi-RBI games. Also worth noting is that sophomore Scott Burkett begins this week with a seven-game hitting streak. Leading the Lancers in pitching is freshman Tyler Wislocki, who boasts a 2.0 ERA through ten appearances on the mound. The men's baseball team looks to keep their streaks alive and their record above .500 this week, first hosting William and Mary University at 6 p.m. tonight.
Number 18 freshman short stop Joey Varaksa from Charlottesville, Va,. hit a ball into the outfield at the Longwood Lancers' April 1 game against UMBC.
The Longwood men's baseball team comes together to celebrate Robby Newman hitting a home run.
Number 17, junior Bobby Shelton, pitches to a UMBC opponent.
