3.9.2011

BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Va. -- Longwood University took a 6-1 baseball road win at VCU of the Colonial Athletic Association Wednesday night at The Diamond in Richmond. The Lancers (11-5) have now won nine-straight games after rallying late against the Rams (4-7) with six runs over the final three innings. Freshman Scott Burkett|Williamsburg (Jamestown) led the way with two hits and three RBI, and classmate Alex Owens|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) had two hits and two RBI while senior captain Chris Briere|Midlothian (James River) earned the pitching win with 8.0 strong innings. Longwood will play again this weekend, March 12-13, hosting the University of Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville. The Lancers and Bulls will play doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m. and 12 p.m., respectively. As always, admission is FREE to all Longwood home baseball games.

VCU took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Paul Nice (2-3) doubled with one out, moved to third on a grounder, and crossed the plate on a wild pitch. It remained a one-run game until the seventh inning when Longwood tied it at 1-1 after a one-out double by Owens (2-4, 2 rbi) was followed by an RBI single from Burkett (2-4, 3 rbi). The Lancers took the lead with four runs in the eighth as Owens hit a one-out, bases-loaded double that scored both junior Dustin Sollars|Midlothian (Cosby) (2-5) and sophomore Justin Lacy|Glen Allen (J.R. Tucker) (3-5) who had each singled. Burkett followed with a two-run single that scored both freshman Matt Dickason|Chesapeake (Indian River) (1-5), who had singled as well, and Owens. The visitors added a final run in the ninth after Sollars reached on a one-out infield single and later crossed the plate unearned courtesy a throwing error.

Briere (3-1) took care of the rest as the starting Longwood pitcher went 8.0 strong innings on the mound, scattering five hits and the one run, earned, with five strikeouts and three walks. Junior captain Mark Montgomery|Williamsburg (Bruton) tossed a perfect final inning for the Lancers, inducing a grounder before striking out the final two batters swinging.

VCU also received two hits from Bill Cullen (2-3), while Kyle Pelchy (1-1) took the pitching loss in relief for the Rams with 1.0 inning, yielding three hits and two runs, both earned, with no strikeouts and one walk.