Livingston, Ala. – Lynn University's baseball team may have needed extra innings but it in the end it came up with a 7-3 victory to split the four-game series with West Alabama on Sunday afternoon. Austin Smith went 2-for-5 with two runs batted in while Kyle Wolfe and Shawn Kale combined to strike out 11 batters. The Fighting Knights even their record at 5-5 on the season.
West Alabama drew first blood, taking advantage of a LU error in the second to score two runs. Jay Jennings knocked home a pair of his teammates with a two-out RBI single just inside the left field line.
Just as UWA had capitalized on Lynn's errors, the Blue & White tied the game and then took the lead on four Tigers' errors in the fourth. The Knights first two batters reached on gaffes; Mike Diorio was first when he reached on a misplayed ball by the first baseman and Wes Soto next after an error by Chris Duncan in left field. The second error allowed Diorio to score.
Following the first out of the frame, Dane Derstine reached on another throwing error, this time by the UWA shortstop, which also allowed Soto to trot across home plate to tie the game at two. The fun didn't end there as the second misplay of the inning by Duncan helped Derstine reach home while giving LU a 3-2 lead.
Wolfe had been cruising during his time on the mound, fanning seven batters in eight innings of work without issuing a walk. He did hit three batters and his lone wild pitch allowed West Alabama to tie the game in the seventh. Ladarious Cole led off the frame with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and then made his way home when Wolfe's pitch got past Derstine.
The Knights' were determined to get the split and head home on the 15 hour bus trip on a high note. Two walks and two wild pitches to start the 11th inning gave LU hope to snap the tie with runners on the corners with no outs. Phil Mannelly put Lynn back on top with a RBI single chasing reliever Jesse Boyd from the game.
His replacement, Colton Henderson, had just as much had just as much trouble finding the strike zone, walking Kyle Radzewski to load the bases and then walking Richie McVey on five pitches to make it 5-3. Austin Smith added a little cushion to the LU lead by driving home Radzewski and Mannelly with two-run single up the middle.
Shawn Kale had allowed just one hit and struck out four through his first two innings of work. The Tigers, however, were looking for another walk-off victory. Tyler Shaw opened with a single and made his way to second off a two-out single by Micah Reaves. Kale was able to record his first career victory with a weak ground ball in the infield and send Lynn home with the 'W.'
The Fighting Knights return to the McCusker Sports Complex on Thursday, February 24, at 2:30 p.m. when they host Mercyhurst College. Fans can follow the action live by logging on to www.LynnFightingKnights.com and selecting "Game Central."
