For immediate release - 3/8/2012 - #272
Lynchburg Baseball Edges NC Wesleyan 5-3

ROCKY MOUNT, NC – The Lynchburg College baseball team defeated North Carolina Wesleyan College 5-3 on Thursday afternoon in non-conference play.

Senior Richard Palase led the Hornets, going 3-4 with one RBI.

LC fell behind 1-0 in the first inning after NC Wesleyan struck first, taking advantage of a passed ball. After two scoreless innings, Lynchburg added two runs in the top of the fourth. Junior Brock Shiflett advanced to third on a fielder's choice from junior Dan Savage and then scored off an NC Wesleyan error. Junior Michael Del Buono crossed home plate on a wild pitch, putting LC up 2-1.

The Battling Bishops tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth, but the Hornets answered again in the top of the fifth when freshman Jay Kenyon scored on a wild pitch, giving the Hornets a 3-2 lead.

Palase expanded the lead to 5-2 with an RBI single in the top of the seventh. He then scored off another NC Wesleyan error for the innings' second run.

In the eighth inning, NC Wesleyan narrowed the lead to 5-3, but senior Jared Millner picked up the save, helping the Hornets win their third straight game.

Freshman Conner Murphy started the game for LC, going four innings, giving up one earned run. Fellow freshman Brandon Miller earned the win while sophomore James Womack pitched in relief along with Millner.

Julio Rodriguez and Pat Laffin each had an RBI for NC Wesleyan (10-11).

Lynchburg (8-3) hosts Penn State Abington on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. on Fox Field.

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