CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College baseball team dropped the first game of its series opener against Longwood on Friday at the PC Baseball Complex, 6-2.
PC moves to 23-27 on the year and 9-10 in the Big South while Longwood improves to 23-24 and 11-11 in league action. The two sides meet on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the second game and PC will honor its five seniors prior to first pitch. Due to weather concerns, the game will not be streamed on the Big South Network presented by State Farm.
The Blue Hose scored a pair of runs in the sixth to make the score 3-2 but the Lancers padded their lead with one run each in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to take the win.
Robby Swab nearly tied the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, the senior catcher ripped a pitch down the right field line to plate two and put runners on second and third. Aaron Preston (Goose Creek, S.C.) and Brad Zebedis (Rock Hill, S.C.) walked and singled, respectively, before Brandon Paul (Augusta, Ga.) took a pitch off the shoulder to fill the bags. Swab's hit brought in Preston and Zebedis but a popup and a rundown at third during the next at-bat ended the inning without another run as Longwood led, 3-2.
Longwood struck first by scoring three in the top of the fifth. The Lancers loaded the bases and a Travis Biddix double down the left field line brought around two before an RBI groundout from Conner Hall put the Lancers ahead by three.
PC used a pair of walks to place runners on second and third in the bottom of the frame but could not convert as two popouts brought the inning to a close without a PC score.
One run each from Longwood in the final three innings gave the visitors enough insurance to earn a 6-2 victory.
Beau Dees (Blenheim, S.C.) threw seven innings and allowed four runs while striking out four to move to 5-6. Brett Byrum (Rowlett, Texas) and Michael Ricchi (McKinney, Texas) allowed one run in an inning of work each.
Jay Lizanich (Greer, S.C.) posted a team-high two hits and four other Blue Hose each collected one. PC played its second-straight error-free game with the result.
Kyler Morgan improved to 5-5 and Aaron Myers picked up his ninth save of the season. Matt Dickason led Longwood with three hits. Hall and Biddix each posted two RBI and Colton Konvicka hit a solo home run in the contest.
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Longwood............ 000 030 111 - 6 11 0 (23-24, 11-11 BSC)
Presbyterian College 000 002 000 - 2 6 0 (23-27, 9-10 BSC)
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Pitchers: Longwood - MORGAN, Kyler; MYERS, Aaron(7) and BURKETT, Scott. Presbyterian College -
DEES, Beau; BYRUM, Brett(8); RICCHI, Michael(9) and SWAB, Robby.
Win-MORGAN, Kyler(5-5) Save-MYERS, Aaron(9) Loss-DEES, Beau(5-6) T-2:10 A-113
HR LU - KONVICKA, Colton (2).
Weather: High-70s, wind SW at 8 mph
