For immediate release – 4/21/2011 - #358
Lynchburg Falls Short to Randolph-Macon

LYNCHBURG, VA – Facing a nine-run deficit in the seventh inning, the Lynchburg College baseball team rallied for five runs in the final two frames, but couldn't complete the comeback, eventually falling to Randolph-Macon College 9-5 in the second-round of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament on Thursday evening.

RMC pitcher Jamie Hendrick kept the Hornets from getting a hit until the bottom of the seventh inning when senior Jordan Watkins (Freeland, MD/Hereford) knocked a single to right field. The Yellow Jackets though, were able to put up runs in four straight innings earlier in the game to give cushion for Hendrick.  They scored two runs in both the second and third innings, adding three tallies in the fourth and two runs in the fifth for a 9-0 lead.

With one out in the seventh, Watkins singled and advanced to second when sophomore Dan Savage (Ashburn, VA/Paul VI) singled to left centerfield. Sophomore Michael Kenah (Clifton, VA/Robinson) then singled up the middle driving home Watkins for the Hornets first run of the night. Junior Richard Palase (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) added another single scoring Savage then giving way to senior Mike Walters (Manassas, VA/Osbourn) who plated Kenah with a RBI-single.

After keeping the Yellow Jackets off the scoreboard in the top of the eighth, Lynchburg faced a 9-3 deficit in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Brock Shiflett (Henrico, VA/Steward School) began the inning by reaching first base off an error. A walk issued to sophomore Michael Burks (Frederick, MD/Tuscarora) gave Lynchburg runners on first and second with no outs.  After advancing on a groundout, freshman Jake Tanner (Big Island, VA/Liberty) came to the plate and lined the ball down the left field line to send both runners home.

RMC pitcher James Bierlein was able to work out of the jam, eventually closing out the Hornets in the eighth and ninth innings, sealing a 9-5 victory for the Yellow Jackets.

Freshman pitcher James Womack started the game for the Hornets, giving up three earned runs while only walking two. Fellow freshman Michael Mansfield (Richmond, VA/Henrico) worked five innings of relief, giving up five runs and striking out five.

Jordan Walton paced the Yellow Jackets (19-17) offensively, going 3-4 with two RBI. Randolph-Macon plays Bridgewater on Friday at 11 a.m. in the next round of the tournament.

Lynchburg (23-14/14-4 ODAC) will play Hampden-Sydney College tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in the elimination game at City Stadium.