April 24, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 3-2 baseball decision in 10 innings to visiting High Point University Thursday night in Farmville. The Lancers are now 21-19 after falling for the seventh time in eight extra-inning games this season. The Panthers of the Big South Conference improved to 17-24 overall. Longwood is idle for spring semester exams next week and will return to action on Saturday, May 3, when traveling to Williamsburg for a scheduled doubleheader at the College of William and Mary beginning at 4 p.m..

Longwood fell behind 2-0 in the first inning as High Point scored two runs, one unearned, courtesy of three hits and two errors. Jeff Cowan (1-5) led-off with a single up the middle but was forced at second on a fielder’s choice ground-ball to third by Alfie Wheeler (0-5). Wheeler was caught stealing for two outs before Matt Gantner (1-4) reached on a single ahead of Billy Alvino (0-4) who reached on a fielding error at first base, and advanced to second on a throwing error by the right fielder on the same play that allowed Gantner to score. Randy Schwartz (1-4, RBI) added an RBI single that plated Alvino.

Longwood tied the contest at 2-2 with two runs in the seventh inning as freshman Justin Morreim/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) (1-4) singled through the right side to lead-off, and moved to second on a single up the middle from sophomore Phil Cerreto/Midlothian (Midlothian) (2-4). Classmate Topher Ellis/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) (1-2) loaded the bases with no outs when he reached on a pinch-hit bunt single to third base. Morreim crossed the plate when senior Nick von Gersdorff/Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (0-4) grounded into a double play, and Cerreto scored unearned while junior Jon Quigley/Annandale (W.T. Woodson) (0-4) reached on a throwing error at third base.

High Point won the game in the 10th inning as Tucker Stobbe (0-3) drew a lead-off walk and was safe at second on a fielder’s choice bunt back to the mound by Drew Geissinger (0-3) as the throw went to second base. Max Fulginiti (1-3) walked as well to load the bases before Kyle Mahoney (1-3, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Stobbe.

Senior Rob Moody/Midlothian (Midlothian) (1-2) took the pitching loss for Longwood with the final 3.0 innings, yielding no hits and one earned run with three strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Jonathan Watson/Richmond (L.C. Bird) had pitched 5.0 scoreless innings of middle relief for the Lancers, yielding just one hit with five strikeouts and one walk.

Bubba O’Donnell (3-1) picked-up the mound win in relief for High Point with the final 1.2 shutout innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout. Sean Murphy had pitched the first 6.0 innings for the Panthers, scattering five hits and two runs, one earned, with five strikeouts and no walks.