High Point, N.C. -- University of Lynchburg baseball's quest for a second-straight conference championship ended Saturday evening to the bitter tune of a 2-1 extra-inning loss to Roanke at Truist Point.

Jack Bachmore made the start and delivered 7 1/3 innings of one-run baseball. Cameron Lane tallied Lynchburg's only RBI, and Grayson Thurman struck out four in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

The Hornets took on Roanoke for the second time in the weekend after they beat Bridgewater, and the Maroons lost to Shenandoah in the first two games of Saturday's action. It was a win-or-go-home situation for both teams, and the intensity was there from the first pitch. Bachmore retired the Maroons in order in the first, but Roanoke took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI-groundout from PK Cocolis. 

Bachmore locked in after allowing his only run of the game. He sat down 15 Maroons in a row after Jonny Wall scored in the second. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Carrson Atkins tripled to center field, turned over the lineup card, and put Lynchburg in prime position to tie up the game. Lane put the ball in play during the next at-bat and earned the RBI as Atkins beat the throw with a slide at home. 

Bachmore's stellar day came to an end with a 2-1 lead and after a leadoff error and sacrifice bunt set up Roanoke for a rally in the eighth. Thurman came in after earning the save in the first game of the day and escaped the jam with two quick strikeouts. 

Lane led off the bottom of the frame with a walk, and Logan Webster bunted him over. Avery Neaves came up to bat with two outs, but Roanoke elected to give the 2022 ODAC Player of the Year a free pass to first. Neaves reached base safely 15 times in the tournament and made his first-career start at first base. However, Tanner James worked out of the jam and forced a fly out to end the Lynchburg threat.

Thurman struck out two more in the top of the ninth, and the Hornets went down in order bringing the game to extra innings. Thurman has 97 strikeouts on the season and is one K away from tying the program's single-season strikeout record. 

Roanoke score on an error in the top of the 10th. Webster singled with two down in the bottom of the frame, but Roanoke held on for the 2-1 victory. The loss was credited to Thurman despite not allowing an earned run. Thurman suffered his first loss in 28 appearances. 

The Hornets were bounced from the ODAC tournament and come up two wins short of repeating as ODAC champions. They are also one victory short of tying their program record in wins set in 2021. 

Lynchburg (35-10) is the seventh-ranked team in the country and the third-ranked team in the region. The Hornets await the announcement of the NCAA tournament field on Monday, May 16. 

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--LYN--