JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A big six-run sixth inning powered the Lincoln University baseball team to victory in game one, 8-3, but Texas A&M International rebounded in game two behind a complete game effort from John Gonzales to gain the split, 5-0, Friday afternoon in Heartland Conference action at the LU Baseball Field. With the victory in the first game, head coach Jim Dapkus reached his 100th victory at Lincoln.
TAMIU (12-27, 11-26 HC) opened the scoring in the first game with a run in the top of the fourth, which was quickly answered by Lincoln (12-25, 10-24 HC) in the bottom half.
After the first two Blue Tigers were retired, junior left fielder Gus Durst coaxed a five-pitch walk, which was followed by a pair of singles, first by senior first baseman Kyle Lasley and the last one by junior right fielder Adam Burcham to drive home Durst and tie the game. Lincoln then took the lead on a mile-high pop up off the bat of junior second baseman Joey Pate and as the Dustdevils’ second baseman ranged back, the wind continued to carry the ball, which ended up going off his glove and landing safely to bring Lasley home on the error and give Lincoln the 2-1 lead after four.
The Dustdevils regained the lead in the sixth with a pair of runs on three hits to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
The Blue Tigers then came back again, this time in a big way. Junior catcher Brian Patrick opened the frame with a single, which Durst followed with a single to place runners at first and second. Lasley then squared around to bunt for a sacrifice, but TAMIU starting pitcher Mike McGillivray tried to get the lead runner at third on the play and in the process threw the ball away allowing Patrick to score all the way from second to tie the game. Burcham worked a full-count walk to load the bases for Pate, who delivered a single to center to bring Durst home and put the Blue Tigers in front, 4-3. After a pitching change, freshman third baseman Greg Lawson continued the hit parade, singling up the middle on a 0-2 pitch to score both Burcham and Lasley. Sophomore pitcher Chris Pfau and junior shortstop James Johndrow then came through with the last two RBI of the inning, as Pfau singled to second base to plate Pate and Johndrow hit a sacrifice fly plating Lawson to put Lincoln ahead 8-3 heading into the seventh.
Still on the mound, Pfau worked around a hit batter to finish the complete game victory. Pfau allowed seven hits and three earned runs, while also walking three and striking out eight for his fourth complete game of the season, as well as fourth win (4-3).
Eight Blue Tigers recorded a hit, as everyone collected a hit in the lineup but Johndrow, who delivered a sacrifice fly RBI. Lawson was the only Blue Tiger to drive home two RBI.
In game two, both Gonzales and senior right-hander Cody Dudenhoeffer battled in a pitchers dual through five innings.
With both teams unable to break through, TAMIU finally came through with a pair of runs in the sixth and then added three more in the seventh to take a 5-0 lead.
Gonzales held the Blue Tigers to just four hits, as Lincoln only advanced three runners past second the entire game.
The biggest threat came in the fifth, as Lasley and Pate each singled around a strikeout to place runners at first and second with one out. A Lawson fly out then advanced Lasley to third and after a walk to senior center fielder Zane Walker, Lincoln had the bases-loaded with two outs. Gonzales then buckled down to record a big strikeout and end the threat.
Lincoln moved another runner past second in the sixth, as Johndrow reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, which allowed him to make it all the way to second. Following a strikeout, a groundout by Durst moved Johndrow to third with two outs. Gonzales, just like in the fifth, recovered to record another strikeout to leave the runner stranded. Pate also made it all the way to third in the seventh, but a double play and a ground out left him stranded.
Pate drilled two of the four Blue Tiger hits in the second game, while Dudenhoeffer lasted six strong innings on the mound, allowing just one earned run in making his second start of the season.
Lincoln and TAMIU will wrap up their three-game series with one, nine inning game on Saturday with gametime set for 12 p.m.
Lincoln 8, Texas A&M Intl. 3 (Apr 09, 2010 at Jefferson City, MO) (Game 1)
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Texas A&M Intl...... 000 102 0 - 3 7 3 (11-27, 10-26 HC)
Lincoln............. 000 206 X - 8 8 0 (12-24, 10-23 HC)
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Pitchers: Texas A&M Intl. - McGillivray; Villa(6) and Winter. Lincoln - Pfau, Chris and
Patrick, Brian.
Win-Pfau, Chris(4-3) Loss-McGillivray(3-5) T-2:04 A-97
McGillivray faced 5 batters in the 6th.
Texas A&M Intl. 5, Lincoln 0 (Apr 09, 2010 at Jefferson City, MO) (Game 2)
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Texas A&M Intl...... 000 002 300 - 5 13 2 (12-27, 11-26 HC)
Lincoln............. 000 000 000 - 0 4 3 (12-25, 10-24 HC)
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Pitchers: Texas A&M Intl. - Gonzales and Sosa. Lincoln - Dudenhoeffer, Cody; Golden, Brian(7);
Graves, Keegan(8) and Patrick, Brian; Moore, Jake.
Win-Gonzales(3-6) Loss-Dudenhoeffer, Cody(1-3) T-2:37 A-121