Font Size: A A A

Bluefield outhits its opponent for the 2nd consecutive game, but comes up short in final score

Sports Information Department BC

May 2, 2012

Bluefield College Athletics 

Bluefield, Virginia

Sports Information Department

Kingsport, Tenn.- The Bluefield Rams were downed by the Montreat College Cavaliers 6-4 in Day Two of action at the Hunter Wright Stadium as Bluefield ends their AAC play in two games at the 2012 AAC Baseball Tournament. 

P Justin Lykins got the start on the mound for Bluefield on the Wednesday's opening day game. Lykins allowed a RBI sac-fly by Brandon Harris to give Montreat an early 1-0 lead. 

Bluefield would respond in the bottom of the inning when Russell-Myers reached on via an error and Hynes on a walk. Joe Gatewood battled through a full count and crushed a two-out RBI single to right field driving in the tying-run at 1-1. 

Lykins settled in for the 2nd inning by retiring batters in successive order. The Rams had a chance in the bottom of the frame to get on the board early when Kaleb Long's leadoff double to deep right field reached the wall. After a great sac-bunt to get Long's courtesy runner, Burton, over to third base- Burton got caught in a run-down trying to reach home. Montreat escaped the inning allowing no Bluefield runs. 

Montreat only brought four batters to face Lykins in the 3rd inning, giving up just a walk in the top portion of the inning. Unfortunately for Bluefield, their bats stayed silent in the bottom of the inning as well. 

The Cavaliers added a free run from Bluefield with Harris scoring on two errors and two wild pitches to take a 2-1 lead. Bluefield only allowed one hit in the inning, but Montreat took advantage of Bluefield's sloppy play. 

BC continued to stay strong on the defensive end and on the mound retiring consecutive batters in the 5th. The Rams responded in the bottom of the inning by taking their first lead of the game. 

After an initial double by Greg Moon, Bluefield got two additional hits to spur on a short run. Zac Russell-Myers punched a short single into right field scoring Moon from second to tie the game at 2-2. The clean up hitter, Joe Gatewood, stepped up next and fired a long double to the left field fence. The speed of Russell-Myers from first base was shown as he would score to give the Rams a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning. Both runs were scored with two outs in the inning.

Montreat would fire back with two runs in the next inning compliments of two walks by Lykins to load the bases with two outs. Tommy Reed took advantage of the opportunity by hitting a punched single into short right field scoring two runners as Montreat regained the lead at 4-3. 

Lykins would finish his outing immediately following by going 5 2/3 innings with 3 ER, six hits and striking out three. 

Joey Andrews entered the game to finish out the 6th. With runners at the corners, Andrews fanned the final batter on a off-speed pitch to get out of the inning.

After a quick up-and-down inning for Bluefield at the plate in the sixth, Montreat increased its lead in the seventh off another two-out hit. Andrews found himself in a hole with bases-loaded. After charging back down 3-0 in count, his 3-2 pitch was lifted into left field over 3B Hynes for a 2 RBI single that would score two runners. The Cavaliers surrendered a final out on the next batter, but not before adding two more runs to take a 6-3 lead. 

The Rams were not done after the seventh inning stretch though as they would pick up one run in the inning on three different hits. Cameron Hynes picked up a two-out RBI single to center field to draw Montreat's lead to 6-4 with two innings to play.

Two quick outs on Bluefield in the 8th inning looked to have shut the door for the Rams until Greg Moon and Alex Riley both got base hits. After a wild pitch, both runners advanced into scoring position. The Rams had the go-ahead run at the plate with Andrew Dickerson. With a chance to close the gap, Dickerson's 2-2 pitch caught the outside corner as the California native got caught looking for the K to end the inning stranding two runners.

Bluefield needed two runs in the ninth to extend play, but couldn't push a runner past first base after an leadoff HBP to Russell-Myers. BC finishes the game out-hitting Montreat by four hits (13-9) on the day, but left ten runners on base in the game.

They were led at the plate by Joe Gatewood who went 3 for 5 with two RBI's. Two other batters also went 2 for 4 in Moon and Russell-Myers, who also picked up an RBI.

The Rams will keep their postseason play going when they travel to Mid-Continent College for the NCCAA Regionals next week. Bluefield will be ranked among the top seeds in the Mid East region. More information to follow.

Comments: