For Immediate Release – 4/26/08 - #340
Hornet Baseball Rallies to Beat Washington & Lee University 7-6 in 12 Innings in ODAC Tournament; Faces Randolph-Macon College at 7 p.m.
LYNCHBURG, VA – Sophomore outfielder David Gaines (Forest, VA/Jefferson Forest) came through with a one-out single up the middle that scored Jon Crews (Lynchburg, VA/Heritage) from second base, as the Lynchburg College baseball team came from behind to eliminate the Generals of Washington & Lee University in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament action from City Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Hornets (30-10) trailed 5-1 going into the bottom of the seventh, but three runs pulled them to within one run at 5-4. Lynchburg tied the score in the bottom of the eighth on a Matt Winston (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) single that scored Crews. W&L battled back, taking the lead in the top of the ninth inning to go up 6-5, but LC knotted the score in their last at-bats of regulation thanks to a Crews sacrifice fly to right.
The Lynchburg bullpen held the potent General offense scoreless over the three extra frames, helping to set up the aforementioned heroics by Gaines. Cameron Grant (Lynchburg, VA/Heritage) was 2-5 with two knocked in, while Winston and Gaines eached finished with two hits, a run scored and a RBI.
Spencer Garrett (Williamsburg, VA/Bruton) was solid in relief, as was Jared Millner (Forest, VA/Jefferson Forest) and Jon Nichols (Stafford, VA/North Stafford). Garrett tossed three scoreless innings in relief, scattering four hits, with Millner going two and a third innings, surrendering three hits. Nichols got the win on the bump for LC, allowing noone to reach in his one and third of action.
Five General players finished with two hits on the afternoon, highlighted by Jim Plantholt’s 2-5 with three RBI and a run scored.
LC will now battle Randolph-Macon College tonight at 7 p.m. in game nine of the ODAC Tournament. The winner of that contest moves into the championship game at 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon.