For immediate release – 2/20/2011 - #233
Lynchburg Falls Short against Birmingham Southern, Virginia Wesleyan

DEMOREST, GA – The Lynchburg College baseball team came up short of a victory this weekend, falling to Birmingham Southern College 15-3 on Saturday and Virginia Wesleyan College 4-2 on Sunday in non-conference play.

The Hornets fell behind early on Saturday against Birmingham Southern, trailing by eight after the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore third baseman Michael Del Buono (Clifton, VA/Robinson) and senior shortstop Richard Palase (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) each got a RBI in the bottom of the sixth inning to put Lynchburg on the board. Del Buono walked with the bases loaded and Palase hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring sophomore Michael Kenah (Clifton, VA/Robinson). Senior Chris Colquhoun (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem) scored as well in the inning off a wild pitch.

Lynchburg however could not complete the comeback, giving up seven runs in the top of the eighth inning to seal the 15-3 victory for the Panthers (7-1). Jordan Burchett (1-0) registered the win for Birmingham Southern while freshman Michael Mansfield (Richmond, VA/Henrico) earned the loss (0-1).

On Sunday afternoon, Lynchburg fell behind Virginia Wesleyan 4-0 by the fourth inning. The Hornets scored their first run in the top of the sixth when Colquhoun hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring senior Mike Walters (Manassas, VA/Osbourn) to cut the Marlins lead to three.

Del Buono started a rally in the eighth inning with a RBI single to score sophomore Brock Shiflett (Henrico, VA/Steward School) to make the score 4-2, but the Marlins forced Lynchburg into an inning-ending double play. Virginia Wesleyan's Ryan Matalon came on in the ninth to save the game for the Marlins (4-2).

Evan Polk (1-0) earned the win while freshman Trevor Johnston (Forest, VA/Jefferson Forest) took the loss (1-1) on the afternoon.

Del Buono led all Lynchburg hitters on Sunday, going 2-4 with a RBI.

Lynchburg (3-5) returns home next Saturday to face Guilford College on Fox Field at 1 p.m.

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