PETERSBURG, Va. — The Lincoln University baseball team responded from a debilitating first-game loss in a doubleheader against Virginia State with an offensive outpour in the nightcap only to relinquish the lead late.
In the 24-5 and 10-8 losses, Lincoln had strong first innings but potent VSU bats overcame those holes. With the losses, the Lions' record falls to 1-11.
LU next plays Felician College Sunday at 1 p.m. on the Lincoln University campus in the home hopener.
Game One
LU's Aaron Thomas (Oxford, PA, Oxford Area) and Alejandro Rosario (Doradas, Puerto Rico)opened the top of the first innings with singles. Thomas came around on a single by Absalom Lopez (Jersey City, NJ, Lincoln). Kyle Brooks (Baltimore, MD, Seton Hill)grounded into a fielders' choice, plating Rosario, who would later score on a single by Maurice Brown (Harrisburg, PA, Harrisburg).
The Trojans scored the next 11 runs, which included six in the bottom of the first, capped by a two-run single by Marcus Waller.
For the Lions, Phillip Tomsic (Bangor, MI, Bangor) went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Alexander Donald (Los Angeles, CA, Dorsey) took the loss by surrendering 11 runs, 7 earned, in 2 2/3 innings.
Game Two
Brooks pitched well in a 10-8 loss to the Trojans, allowing just one earned run in a complete-game effort. LU amassed a 5-0 lead after the first two innings before VSU assembled the comeback.
Leadoff man Thomas had two-run single in the first after the Lions had batted around, highlighting a four-run first inning. In the second, Donald singled in Rosario for a 5-0 LU advantage.
Entering the bottom of the fifth, LU led, 6-1, but a triple by John Bivens brought the Trojans within one. Attempting to re-establish control Donald doubled in Rosario, but five VSU runs in the bottom of the inning left LU in need of a seventh inning rally, which it nearly got. Tomsic came home when Omar Cham (Highland Park, NJ, Highland Park)hit into a fielder's choice.
Kyle Waltson, charged with closing out the game, got Rosario to hit into a game-ending double play.
