Game One Box
Game Two Box
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (February 26, 2011) — Playing a make-up doubleheader, the Lincoln University baseball team (0-4, 0-4 CIAA) dropped both games to Elizabeth City State Saturday afternoon at Bertie High School in Windsor, N.C.
Originally scheduled for Friday, the Lions struggled, 15-4 and 9-4. ECSU (5-3, 2-0 CIAA) assembled several big innings including a 10-run sixth inning in the opening game and a four-run fourth in game two.
The positive sign is that the LU offense continues to produce early in the year. Because the Pennsylvania weather has kept the team from practicing outdoors, relentless work in the cage has kept the team sharp at the plate. Defensively, though, the lack of repetitions has showed at times.
Game One
The afternoon began positively enough with a two-run top of the first for the Lions. Alexander Donald (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey HS) singled, scoring Demetrius Morris. Later in the frame, Steve Talmo (New Castle, Del./William Penn HS) grounded out to short for a fielder's choice, scoring Melvin Robinson (Bear, DE/William Penn), who had reached on a walk.
LU would not trail until the third inning when ECSU scored two to go ahead, 3-2. Elizabeth City State added two more in the fourth, but LU showed resiliency in the fifth. Robinson doubled to begin the frame and scored two batters later on a ground out to short by Kyle Brooks (Baltimore, Md./Seton Hill HS).
Donald and Morris each had two hits apiece while Morris and Robinson each scored twice. Talmo had two RBIs.
However, the sixth inning proved the undoing as the Vikings pounded out 10 runs on 10 hits and were aided by a pair of Lion errors with Omar Cham (Highland Park, NJ/Highland Park) on the hill.
Phil Tomsic (0-2) took the loss, his first of the year after allowing five runs over the first four innings. Four of those runs were earned. Lincoln committed four errors in the opening game.
Game Two
The Vikings scored the first three runs of the game with one in the first and two in the second. In the top of the third, LU cut the deficit in half when a Robinson sac fly brought home Devon Legins. However, the Vikings responded with two in the bottom of the frame and four in the fourth to assume an 8-1 lead.
The Lions' bats showed promising life late with three runs in the sixth. The inning's first five batters reached base and two came home before an out was recorded. Robinson and Talmo both singled and Brooks walked to load the bases. Sophomore Christian Valdez (Hyattsville, Md./Bladensburg HS) singled home Robinson, and Percy Bullock (Pittsburgh, PA/Susquehanna) walked to bring in Talmo. Legins flew out to right for the sacrifice fly, bringing home Brooks.
Donald took the loss in his first decision of the year after surrendering seven runs, six earned, on four runs and four hits in three innings. Morris showed promise in holding the powerful ECSU offense to two runs over the final three innings.
Robinson was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run.
Up Next
The Lions' continue the southern swing with a doubleheader against Saint Augustine's at 1 p.m. at Buffaloe Road Park in Raleigh, N.C.
— LU —
