FARMVILLE, Va. – Cletis Avery drove in the winning run in the top of the eighth inning as Presbyterian took the rubber match from Longwood, 10-2, Saturday afternoon at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
Avery's lone hit of the day brought in the winning run to clinch the conference series for Presbyterian (20-18, 8-4 Big South). Longwood (12-22, 4-8 Big South) led early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but couldn't respond as the Blue Hose scored 10 unanswered runs. Nine of Presbyterian's 10 runs scored after the start of the seventh inning.
Neither starter factored into the decision despite both putting together quality starts. Hayden Deal tossed 6.1 innings and allowed two runs, both unearned, on five hits and four walks with five punchouts for Presbyterian.
Longwood junior right-hander
Zach Potojecki struck out eight batters in 6.0 innings of one-run ball and allowed five hits and one walk.
"Zach battled on a day where he didn't have his best stuff," Longwood head coach
Ryan Mau said. "He was plenty good enough to win the ballgame today."
The start for Potojecki was his second quality start of the season, one behind
Cody Wager, who has a team-high three after tossing a complete game in Thursday's win.
Longwood starters struck out 32 batters in the three games against Presbyterian. Wager,
Steven Farkas, and Potojecki combined to toss 22.0 innings with two runs allowed and just two walks issued. All three recorded quality starts in the series.
"Unfortunately we let some good pitching this weekend go by the wayside," Mau said. "We're still trying to consistently put all three aspects together to complete a game."
Ryan Shull had the lone multi-hit game of the day for Longwood. Shull went 2-for-4 with a double.
Longwood struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Sammy Miller got into scoring position on a hustle double into right-center with two outs.
Michael Osinski then reached on a two-base error, which allowed Miller to motor home and score the first run of the game. After
Joey Mendez walked,
Alex Lewis singled through the right side and Osinski scored to make it 2-0 Lancers.
Presbyterian got on the board in the fifth inning. Tannor Byrd hit a one-out double down the left field line and scored in the next at-bat on a single up the middle by Tyler Weyenberg.
The Blue Hose tied the game in the top of the seventh. Jack McLaughlin entered the game to pinch hit against lefty
Jon Peterson. McLaughlin hit the first offering of the at-bat over the left-field wall to tie the game at two.
Presbyterian took the lead in the top of the eighth. Glen Casaceli led off the inning with a walk. After Brett Auckland moved Casaceli to second with a sacrifice bunt, Avery brought in the go-ahead run with a single back up the middle.
Weyenberg led Presbyterian at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and finishing a home run shy of the cycle Saturday.
Longwood has the next two days off before returning to action at No. 12 Virginia on Tuesday, which can be heard on 92.9 FM Farmville WVHL Kickin Country. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6 p.m. at Davenport Field.
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