The Longwood baseball team dropped a three game series to the visiting Virginia Military Institute Keydets over the weekend. The Keydets took games one and three while the Lancers won in game two. Assistant Coach Brian McCullough said, “I thought our starting pitching ... set the tone for the weekend for our ball club.”
Game one of the series turned into a pitcher’s duel between Longwood (11-14, 3-3 Big South) senior right-hander Kyler Morgan and VMI lefty Connor Bach. The Keydets scored the only run of the game when centerfielder Rob Dickinson delivered an RBI single to right.
Bach tossed eight shutout innings and recorded five strikeouts while only surrendering two hits. Morgan went seven innings for the Lancers and struck out seven while only giving up five hits. According to McCullough, the loss in game one “stung the most. If we win that game, we win the series.”
In game two, the Lancers edged the Keydets in a 4-3 thriller. The game featured a scoreless tie until freshman centerfielder Colton Konvicka blasted a towering homerun to left field in the fifth inning. Konvicka finished 1 for 4 with 2 RBI.
The Keydets did not wait long to respond. In the top of the sixth and with runners on second and third, the Lancers brought in sophomore closer Aaron Myers in place of classmate Brandon Vick. Vick pitched 5.2 innings while recording two strikeouts and one walk.
VMI countered the strategy with a pinch-hitter in the form of freshman Red Dowdell. Dowdell made it pay off by delivering an RBI single over the outstretched arms of third baseman C.J. Roth to cut the lead to 2-1.
Down 3-1 in the top of the ninth inning, VMI came right back and answered the call with a two-run RBI single to left field by sophomore Sheldon Shifflett. Sophomores Brandon Angus and Michael Donovan scored the runs to tie the game at three.
With freshman Kyri Washington on second, freshman Travis Burnette laid down a bunt in order to move Washington to third. However, the throw from third baseman Ray Lopez was wild, and Washington plated the winning run.Myers pitched the final 3.1 innings for the Lancers. The sophomore recorded six strikeouts while giving up two earned runs on six hits. “Aaron gave us a good chance to win ... he fell behind a couple of hitters there late, but he still battled,” said McCullough.
In game three, VMI won handily in a 13-1 romp to take the series. The Keydets got the scoring started in the second inning with five runs, including a three-run homerun from junior Thomas Stallings. From there, it was all VMI.
Freshman Blake Ream got the start but only lasted two full innings of work. Ream gave up six runs (five earned), including a three-run homerun by Thomas Stallings in the second inning. In total, the Lancers used four freshmen pitchers in game three of the series.
McCullough said, “They’re gaining experience, so we hope they learn from this and move forward.” McCullough noted that, although Ream struggled in the game, “He is definitely getting the ball again next weekend.” Ream is currently 2-3 on the season with a 5.61 era in six appearances.
The Keydets added six more runs in the closing innings and cruised to a 13-1 win. VMI was lead in game three. Dickinson finished 3 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored. By taking two of three games at Longwood, VMI moved to 11-15 (3-3 BSC) and into a tie with the Lancers for fourth place in the North Division of the Big South.
The Lancers last night started on a five-game road trip that with a twinbill at North Carolina Central, which ended with two losses by scores of 5-4 and 10-0. The trip also features a three game set against the Big South North Division-leading Liberty Flames. The Flames are 15-9 on the season with a 4-2 start in conference play.
On that series, McCullough said, “We’re going down there to win the series ... we’re not going to treat it any differently.” The next home game for the Lancers is on April 3 against the George Mason Patriots.
No. 2 freshman, Colton Konvicka slides to second base avoiding an out by an opposing VMI player at this past weekend's game.
No. 21 sophomore, Tyler Wislocki pitches during the VMI game.
