LYNCHBURG, Va. --- Roanoke dropped two games to Lynchburg, 5-1 and 4-2 in an ODAC-doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Fox Field. The Maroons fell to 9-18, 1-11 in ODAC play, while Lynchburg improves its record to 17-12, 10-3 in conference.
Roanoke jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second when Scott Thurston's (Glen Allen, VA, J.R. Tucker) RBI was drove home Matt Wallman (Forest, VA, Jefferson Forest) for the unearned run.
Lynchburg responded in the bottom half of the inning as Jordan Watkins RBI sent Michael Del Buono home from third. From there, the Hornets never looked back, as they were able to garner up four more runs, three of which came in the bottom of the seventh inning. The surge was highlighted by Ragan Rudisill's two-RBI base-hit which drove in runners on second and third to cross home plate.
Five different players recorded one hit a-piece for the Maroons. Thurston's RBI scored the only run of the game for Roanoke.
Ragan Rudisill's three-for-four, two RBI performance led the way for the victors. Richard Palase also chipped in with two hits of his own, respectively.
Tyler Grouten (Avon, CT, Avon), was tagged with the loss on the hill for the Maroons, bringing his record to 2-3 on the year. He pitched seven innings, giving up seven hits, while striking out four. Matt Morgan Lynchburg undefeated on the year for the Hornets, improving his record to 5-0
In the second half of the doubleheader, Roanoke was again overmatched by Lynchburg's balanced offensive attack.
It was Lynchburg this time who took the early lead, scoring one run in both the first and second inning. However, Roanoke fought its way back into the game in the top of the third off of Mark Manthe's (Blacksburg, VA, Blacksburg) double to right field. This was good to drive home two runs, knotting the score up at two-a-piece.
The Maroons were not able to hold the lead for long. The Hornets regained the advantage in the bottom half of the same inning, when Del Buono's sacrifice fly was sent Richard Palase home from third. Lynchburg went on to score again in the bottom of the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Roanoke was led by Manthe's three-for-four, two RBI performance. He also led the defensive effort with eleven put outs, giving him a team best 172 on the year.
Jordan Watkins' two-for-three outing paced the way for Lynchburg.
Michael Haslam (Collegeville, PA, Springfield) pitched 6.1 innings for the Maroons, and dropped to 2-7 on the year. He gave up five hits, while striking out five batters. James Womack knotched another win on the year, giving him a record of 4-3 .
The Maroons return to action as they travel to Emory and Henry College Tuesday, April 5th. The first pitch is set to be thrown at 3:00 p.m.
