The Lincoln University baseball team concluded their first ever east Coast Conference series on Sunday with a doubleheader against LIU-Post. The Pioneers completed the series sweep, defeating the Lions 14-5 and 16-1.
In the opener, the Lions banged out eight hits, including doubles from
Jared Thompkins (Mattison, Ill./Rich Central) and
Carlos Nieves (Isabela, P.R./Puerto Rico Baseball Academy) and a pair of singles from
Malcolm Smith (Los Angeles, Calif./Susan Miller Dorsey), the only Lincoln player with a multiple hit game.
Lincoln's offense however could not overcome a 15-hit attack from the regionally ranked (#6 NCBWA Atlantic Region) Pioneers as they jumped out to a 12-0 lead with runs in five of the first six innings before the Lions produced a five run seventh inning to close the gap to 12-5.
CarVonte Williams (Cleveland, Ohio/Twinsburg) and Smith opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Nieves laced a first pitch double to the gap in left center field to score Williams.
Sheldon Johnson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) and
Jordan Rorer (Cheltenham, Pa./Cheltenham) were both hit by pitches to load the bases and bring home the second run of the inning with nobody out, bringing up Thompkins. The freshman catcher took a 2-1 pitch and drilled it into left field, clearing the bases for three RBI and the Lions' final runs of the inning.
The Pioneers added solo runs in the eight and ninth innings to make the final score 14-5.
Xavier Storey (Los Angeles, Calif./West LA College) took the loss for Lincoln, allowing eight runs on seven hits in three innings of work.
Mike Stiles earned the win for the Pioneers pitching six scoreless innings while striking out five and allowing just three hits. Reynaldo Guillen drove in three runs for LIU-Post while Mike Manzione and Chris Wasson had two RBI apiece. Jahsiah Greene had three hits and was one of five LIU-Post players with multiple hits in the game.
In the nightcap Williams had two of the Lions five hits and Nieves drove in the lone LU run in a 16-1 Pioneer victory.
Rolando Alvarez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth Regional ) pitched 6.1 innings, allowing ten runs (six earned) while striking out five.
LIU-Post jumped out to an 8-0 lead with three runs in the first, three more in the second and two in the fourth. Lincoln scored their lone run in the fourth when Smith scored on a sacrifice fly by Nieves.
The Pioneers added eight more runs in the final three innings to round out their scoring. Wasson led the team with three hits while Michael Greene had three RBI. Josh Loeschern earned the win, tossing six innings of three hit ball while striking out three.
Lincoln is now 1-16 overall and 0-4 in ECC games after Sunday's sweep. The Pioneers improve to 13-9 overall and 4-0 lin league play
The Lions are back in action on Friday, March 29, 2019 when they travel to face Molloy College for their first ECC road series. LU will play one game on Friday, two on Saturday and conclude the series with a single game on Sunday.
