OXFORD, Pa. (March 26, 2011) — Behind the arm of freshman pitcher
Demitrius Morris and timely hitting, the Lincoln University baseball team recorded its first win over Shaw University, 4-2, in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) action Saturday afternoon at Oxford Area High School.
Morris (1-1) struck out eight and did not allowed an earned run in the complete-game effort for his first collegiate victory. The Bears (10-20, 4-11 CIAA) avoided the sweep by responding in the blustery afternoon's second game, winning 17-8.
"Demitrius pitched a heck of a game," head coach Anthony Plá said. "We got hitting from people other than the big bats in our lineup, and that's huge. I'm disappointed we lost the second game, but I'm ecstatic to pick up this win. We've been knocking on the door against them, and it was only a matter of time before we broke through."
The bats began efficiently.
Marquise Hudson began the home half of the first by drawing a walk and stealing second. The sophomore right fielder came home two batters later on a double by
Melvin Robinson scorched down the left field line.
Shaw would not muster a response until the fourth when
Jarrell Goings singled home
Alberto Johson. The 1-1 deadlock was shortlived.
Kyle Brooks walked and came home on an RBI single by
Omar Cham in the next half inning.
The Lions
(3-13, 3-13 CIAA) tacked on two more in the fifth. With
Alexander Donald on third, Brooks swiped second, but an errant throw sailed into the outfield. Donald walked in while Brooks motored around the diamond for the 4-1 edge.
Shaw scraped together a run in the seventh, but Morris settled in. Overall he surrendered just four hits and allowed two runs, neither of which was earned.
"It gives me the confidence to know I can pitch the whole game," Morris said. "It feels good to help the team."
In the second game, the Bears scored in each of the first three innings including an eight-run third that put them ahead 11-1.
Lincoln rallied late behind the bottom half of the lineup. Freshman
Devin Legins was 2-for-3 at the dish including an RBI double scoring
Ivan Mitchell, who came off the bench and was 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
Cham (0-1) took the loss, his first decision of the year.
Although the loss was a setback, the over-riding feeling was positive. LU received contributions from the top of the line-up down including clutch at-bats from those called upon to pinch-hit.
"In the first game, we out-hit and out-pitched them," Plá said. "This just goes to show that we can compete with anybody in the conference."
Up Next
Anticipated inclement weather has resulted in the postponement of Sunday's scheduled CIAA doubleheader against CIAA foe Saint Augustine's College. No make-up date has been announced. The Lions return to the diamond on Wednesday to take on Division I school Delaware State University in Dover, Del.
