Lantana, Fla. – Lynn University's baseball team saw its offense and defense running on all cylinders in an 8-4 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday night. Andrew Virgili picked up the victory on the mound while striking out a career-high 10 batters and the Fighting Knights hitters belted out 14 hits. Lynn improves to 14-13 overall.
Both pitchers were making quick work as the first three innings saw just four baserunners from either side. Virgili fanned four batters and his counterpart, Logan Thomas, struck out three during that span.
The Blue & White broke free in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a Sailfish (17-11) miscue to take a 1-0 lead. Back-to-back base hits by Richie McVey and Dane Derstine got LU its first runners since the opening frame while a misplayed ball in right field off Derstine's single allowed McVey to get to third and eventually score off a Phil Mannelly single.
Kyle Radzewski and Austin Smith kept things rolling with consecutive singles to open the fifth before an error at third off a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases. Anthony Boza singled home Radzewski and Smith found home plate from a McVey ground out.
Virgili (5-3) ran into his only trouble in the home half of the fifth. Jordan Carter drove in PBA's first run of the game with a double to right center to make it 3-1 but watched as Lynn's starter fanned the next three hitters with the bases loaded to end the threat.
Lynn poured it on in the seventh, sending nine batters to the plate in scoring four runs and taking a 7-1 lead. Once again it was Radzewski and Smith who served as the catalyst for the Knights offense, opening the frame with back-to-back singles. A bases loaded ground out by McVey plated the first run for LU while a key two-out error by the Sailfish's shortstop allowed one run to score and kept the frame alive. Mannelly made PBA pay with a two-run single.
Jason Whelan came in to pitch the final two innings and ran into little trouble into a two-out error in the ninth allowed Palm Beach Atlantic to score three. Smith halted any thoughts of a comeback though when he gunned down Taylor Kaprive at third to end the game.
The Fighting Knights close out their series against Palm Beach Atlantic at home on Saturday with a noon double-header. Fans can follow the action live by logging on to www.LynnFightingKnights.com and selecting "Game Central."
