3.29.2011

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took an exciting 9-8 home baseball victory in extra innings past in-state foe James Madison University of the Colonial Athletic Association Tuesday afternoon at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville. The Lancers (19-10) scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning against the visiting Dukes (18-8). Senior captain Brant Jones|Richmond (Monacan) provided the game-winning RBI, while classmate and fellow captain Chris Briere|Midlothian (James River) and sophomore Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) each collected two RBI. Longwood's scheduled game on Wednesday, March 30, at Radford University of the Big South Conference at 6 p.m. has been canceled.

Longwood allowed JMU a run in the first inning before the Lancers scored single runs in each of the first four innings to lead 4-1 through four innings. The Dukes scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-4 advantage, but Longwood answered with two runs in the sixth to go back ahead 6-5. JMU, though, scored two more runs in the seventh to lead 7-6. The Lancers once-again responded with two runs in the seventh as well to lead 8-7, but the Dukes tied it at 8-8 with a run in the eighth, and it remained tied through the regulation nine innings. Longwood finally pushed across the decisive run in the 11th inning after a two-out throwing error allowed the Lancers to load the bases and plate the decisive run.

In the first, JMU's Jake Lowery (1-2, rbi) hit a one-out solo home run for the game's first run. Longwood answered in the first as freshman Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) (1-3, rbi) walked and later scored on a fielder's choice RBI off the bat of classmate Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) (2-5, rbi). Dickason provided a one-out RBI single in the second that scored junior Robby Newman|Virginia Beach (Salem) (1-3) who had also walked. Jones (1-6, rbi) drew a walk and later scored on a ground ball double-play in the third. Junior Michael Sims|Stafford (North Stafford) (2-3, rbi) added a run-scoring single in the fourth that scored Briere (2-4, 2 rbi) who, you guessed it, had reached base via yet another walk.

JMU scored two in the fifth on a two-run double by David Herbek (3-5, 5 rbi), and added two runs in the sixth on a two-run single from Herbek. Longwood scored two in the sixth on a two-run double from Lacy (1-6, 2 rbi), but the Dukes scored two more runs in the seventh when Billy Logan (2-6, rbi) hit a run-scoring triple and Cole McInturff (1-4, rbi) contributed a sacrifice fly. The Lancers tallied two more runs in the seventh as well as Briere, also the team's number one starting pitcher, hit his first collegiate home run, a one-out two-run blast to left field. JMU, however, forced the extra innings with a run in the eighth on a one-out RBI single off the bat of Herbek.

Longwood won the game in the 11th as Briere reached on a two-out throwing error followed by two walks that loaded the bases. Jones hit a ground ball toward third that the JMU third baseman tried making the force out at third base, though Dickason was safe on the play as Briere crossed the plate to end the game.

Junior Matt Gwaltney|Chesterfield (Matoaca) (4-3) earned the Longwood pitching win with the final 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with one strikeout and three walks. Junior captain Mark Montgomery|Williamsburg (Bruton) tossed the 8th (1.0) inning for the Lancers, yielding one hit and one run, earned, with two strikeouts and one walk -- his first allowed run this season in 14 appearances and 18.2 innings (0.48 ERA).

Nick Slogik (2-1) took the pitching loss in relief for JMU with 4.2 innings, scattering four hits and three runs, two earned, with no strikeouts and four walks.