FARMVILLE, Va. – Niagara exploded for 11 runs in the sixth and seventh innings to upend Longwood, 15-2, in the home opener Friday at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
"We didn't make plays tonight, we had a lot of throwaway at-bats early in the game, and our bullpen didn't challenge the strike zone: that's a recipe for disaster," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said. "We'll have to readdress some things and we'll see what we're made of tomorrow."
 
Starter Steven Farkas (0-2) was hit with the loss. Farkas struck out seven in 5.0 innings of work with five runs allowed on eight hits and one walk issued. Farkas also pitched to four batters in the sixth inning.
 
After Farkas left the game in the sixth, the bullpen for Longwood surrendered 10 combined runs on seven hits with 13 walks and three combined strikeouts.
 
"The bullpen didn't perform very well tonight," Mau said. "You can't give away that many free passes and expect to be in the ballgame against anyone."
 
Alexandre Jones (1-0) picked up the win after going 4.0 innings in relief. The freshman left-hander held Longwood scoreless with a pair of strikeouts, one walk, and one hit allowed.
 
In the loss, sophomore infielder Nate Blakeney put together his second multi-hit game of the season for the Lancers. Blakeney went 2-for-4 with a double, his first extra-base hit of the season.
 
Senior outfielder Ryan Shull and sophomore catcher Nathan Iskowitz each also reached multiple times for Longwood. Shull put together a two-hit game, going 2-for-3 with one walk drawn. Iskowitz was 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.
 
The Lancers took the early lead with a pair of runs in the second inning. Joey Mendez and Shull singled back-to-back to start the home half of the inning. After a wild pitch moved up both runners Iskowitz plated Mendez on an RBI ground out. Three batters later Shull scored on a second wild pitch in the frame.
 
Niagara first got on the board in the third inning. With two outs Julian Gallup doubled down the left field line and then scored when Greg Cullen singled past the glove of Blakeney at third, reducing Longwood's lead to 2-1.
 
The Purple Eagles took the lead with a five-run rally in the sixth inning. Cullen reached on a bunt single to start the frame and moved into scoring position when Peter Battaglia singled to center field on a soft liner. The next batter, Trevor McCauley, hit a line drive to left field that just got over the head of Jawan McAllister and gave Niagara a 3-2 lead. After issuing a walk, the day was done for Farkas, who was replaced by Tyler Morgan. Owen Dziados then homered to left, upping Niagara's lead to 6-2.
 
"I thought they put a good swing on the ball and delivered a big blow in the sixth and unfortunately it knocked the wind out of our sails," Mau said. "I'm disappointed in our response from that."
 
Cullen was not retired for the game, finishing 6-for-6 with three RBI, three runs scored, and fell a double shy of the cycle. Dziados also did heavy damage, going 2-for-3 with four RBI.
 
With rain anticipated Sunday, the final game of the series has been pushed up to Saturday. Longwood and Niagara will play a doubleheader Saturday with game one of the series beginning at noon. There will be approximately 30 minutes between games one and two.
 
Senior left-hander Michael Catlin (0-1) is expected to start game one of the doubleheader, while junior righty Cody Boydstun (0-1) is the projected starter for game two. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
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