Lincoln University of Missouri

http://www.lincolnu.edu

BLUE TIGERS STRUGGLE IN SAN ANTONIO

Lincoln University (1-7, 0-4 Heartland Conference) started off the Heartland Conference season by being swept in a four-game series by St. Mary’s University (6-2, 4-0). In action played before an average crowd of 226 the Blue Tigers were beaten by an average score of 9-4. Overall in the Feb. 16-17 contests in V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium, the Rattlers outscored the Blue Tigers by 20 runs overall 36-16.

Feb. 16

GAME ONE

A five-run first inning and three additional runs in the bottom of the third gave the Rattlers an 8-0 lead. The Blue Tigers batted around in the top of the fifth inning, plating five runs on six hits, but would get no closer than 8-5. St. Mary’s scored their final run in the bottom of the fifth and stopped a Lincoln University rally in the seventh to win the game 9-5.

David Atkins went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and a Run-Batted-In.

The Rattlers knocked around starter Adam Patch (0-2). St. Mary’s wrapped 10 hits off Patch and each of the nine runs was earned.

GAME TWO

St. Mary’s posted 13 runs over the second and third innings on their way to a 15-3 win. The Rattlers rocked starter Justin Holliday (0-1) for six runs on five hits in the second inning. Mike Hall came on in the third inning after Holliday gave up a lead off double to Jonathan Cisneros. Hall, who only retired one, was touched for seven runs (five earned) on three hits. Cody Dudenhoeffer got the Blue Tigers out of the third with a couple of catches by centerfielder Travis Kay.

Chris Barrett was 2-for-2 (singles) and Mike Rodgers had a 2-for-3 (singles) game with an RBI. The Blue Tigers committed three errors in the game and left nine runners on base. The Rattlers took six walks and scored on three of those free passes.

Feb. 17

GAME ONE

In a game in which the Rattlers made five errors, the Blue Tigers failed to take full advantage.

After the Blue Tigers tied the game 7-7 in the top of the sixth inning, the Rattlers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 10-7 lead. Bobby Livingston took the hill in the sixth inning in relief of Mat Bolzenius. Livingston (0-1) struck out the first batter he faced (Ryan Femath), while the next batter (Danny Cantu) grounded out to second baseman Rodgers. A walk issued to Michael Brzezinski was followed by a wild pitch. Cody Pyle was hit by a pitch and Cisneros walked, loading the bags for Michael Pawelek. A double to left centerfield by Pawelek cleared the bases and lifted St. Mary’s to a 10-7 advantage.

Kay kicked off the seventh inning by getting on base after an error by shortstop Femath. Troy Malesky singled to right field allowing Kay to run to second. Kay motored to third on an error by Pawelek in right field. Three consecutive plate appearances by the Blue Tigers to try and tie the game were dealt the same result. Michael Villarreal closed the game by getting strikeouts from pinch hitter Mitch Lickey (for Rodgers), Chris Barrett and Tyrell Roseburrow.

Ben Neuner started the game and went two and a third innings. He gave up five runs, three earned on seven hits.

Travis Kay had a 3-for-4 (singles) game with a RBI. Malesky went 1-for-2 (single) and had a RBI.

Eight of the nine Blue Tigers left on base were stranded in scoring position. Lincoln University left the bases loaded in the third inning.

Five walks were given to St. Mary’s with three of those base runners scoring.

GAME TWO

The Blue Tigers spoiled a chance to end the series with a positive. Matt Rose (0-2) pitched six and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball before an error by Kay gave the Rattlers a come from behind win, 2-1.

A chance for a big second inning stalled when Lickey hit into a 4-6-3 (second base to shortstop to first base) double play to pick up the first two outs of the inning. Dusty Schneiders led off the inning receiving a walk. Back-to-back errors by catcher Pyle on sacrifice bunt attempts by Kay and Mike Hall loaded the bases for the Blue Tigers. Schneiders scored on the double play that left Kay at third base. Barrett grounded out to second baseman Ray Camacho to end the inning.

Derek Gonzalez singled to ignite the Rattlers in the top of the seventh inning. In a game where four of the five errors led directly to runs, the first error committed by the Blue Tigers allowed the Rattlers to have two base runners. The Blue Tigers untimely demise was complete as the second error let the winning run score. The first error occurred when a bunt attempt by Camacho was not fielded cleanly by Rose, who was trying to tag out Camacho as he ran up the first base line. The miscue pushed pinch runner Nate Wilson (for Gonzalez) to second base. A bunt single to the left side of the infield by Bobby Freeman jammed the sacks. Brzezinski singled to left field plating Wilson to tie the game. Cantu fouled out to Hall at first base and Pyle flied out to Kay in centerfield to give the Blue Tigers two outs. As Kay was hauling in the ball off of the bat of Pyle, Camacho was racing toward home plate, drawing a throw to catcher Barrett. The throw sailed up the third base line and Camacho scored to give the Rattlers a series sweeping 2-1 win.

St. Mary’s Tommy Vrzal struck out eight and allowed the Blue Tigers only one-hit.

Mike Hall had the lone hit of the ballgame for Lincoln University.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Each team averaged two errors-per-game in the four game set.

The Blue Tigers struggles at the plate continue. Lincoln University had 26 hits in 108 at-bats, a .241 batting average. The Rattlers hit .377 (40-106) with 12 doubles, a triple and a home run in the weekend series. The Blue Tigers had just one extra base hit all weekend.

Five wild pitches and eight hit batsmen did not help the Lincoln University cause.

The Blue Tigers were outscored 13-4 in the first three innings of the series.

ON DECK

Lincoln University ventures to Austin, Texas to take on St. Edward’s University. The games from Lucian-Hamilton Field start at 12:00 p.m. on Feb. 23 and 11:00 a.m. Feb. 24. The Hilltoppers (8-2, 4-0) are tied for 29th in the Feb. 19 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II Poll.

The Blue Tigers were 0-8 against the Hilltoppers in 2006. Six of last year’s eight games with St. Edward’s were won by two runs or less. Four of those six defeats were one-run games, three of which were losses in Austin, Texas.

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