THREE RUN 11^TH INNING LIFTS LYNCHBURG PAST BASEBALL TIGERS

Game Box Score

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (April 6, 2005)—Lynchburg College scored three runs in the top of the 11^th inning to take a 10-7 victory over Old Dominion Athletic Conference foe Hampden-Sydney College Wednesday afternoon at Yank Bernier Field.  With the win, the Hornets improve to 16-11 overall and 8-3 in the ODAC while the Tigers drop to 17-9 overall and 7-4 in conference play. 

Lynchburg pinch hitter Sam Bonner singled to drive in first baseman Lucas Jones, snapping the 7-7 tie, while right fielder Eric O’Brien made his only hit in five plate appearances count with a two-run double to give the Hornets the 10-7 advantage in their half of the 11^th inning.   

Lynchburg jumped out to a 3-0 lead after scoring runs in each of the first three innings, taking advantage of a Tiger error in the top of the first and solo homers by Sean Ranson and Shawn Abell in the second and third innings off Tiger ace John Schoenholtz (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia/McCallie).  The Tigers rallied with a three-run fourth inning off Lynchburg ace Matt Gouker as Chris Padgett (Williamsburg, VA/Jamestown) doubled home John Apperson (Lynchburg, VA/Heritage) and then scored on Joe Knowles (Lynchburg, VA/Heritage) RBI single.  Tommy Burk’s (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun Valley) sacrifice fly then drove home Jason Bour (Centreville, VA/Westfield) to tie the contest at three. 

Lynchburg scored a single run in the top of the fifth as Lucas Jones drove in Shawn Abell, but the Tigers answered with a run of their own in their half of the inning when Tommy Burk walked with the bases loaded to score John Apperson.  Hampden-Sydney took its first lead of the game, 6-4, as Apperson and Chris Padgett each drove in runs in the bottom of the sixth. 

Lynchburg then tied the game in the seventh on Lucas Jones’ two-run single.  Hampden-Sydney made it 7-6 on Mike Clark’s (Kinsale, VA/Washington and Lee) double off the left field wall in their half of the seventh, but the Hornets tied the game in the ninth as Lucas Jones drove in his fourth run of the game with a single that scored Shawn Abell. 

Hampden-Sydney freshman Brock Ward (Lanexa, VA/New Kent) took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over one and two-thirds innings of relief.  Tiger starter John Schoenholtz allowed four earns (three earned) on seven hits through the first five innings before giving the ball to Jayson Hanky (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) who allowed three runs on seven hits over four innings of work. 

Lynchburg reliever Eric Fitzsimmons worked the final three and one-third innings to earn the victory after allowing no runs and three hits while walking two and striking out one.  Matt Gouker lasted four and one third innings to start the contest for the Hornets and surrendered four runs and six hits before handing things over to Kyle Utz, who gave up two runs on four hits in one and two-thirds innings. 

Hampden-Sydney returns to action Saturday as the Tigers travel to Bridgewater, VA, to take on the Bridgewater College Eagles in a doubleheader starting at 12 pm.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-