LYNCHBURG, Va. - On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, Eastern Baseball began its 2023 season with a pair of contests against No. 16 Lynchburg. The Eagles (0-2) dropped a closely contested game one, 4-2, before falling in the nightcap by a score of 14-0.
The host Hornets (4-1) struck first in the opener with a single run in each the first and second frames to take a 2-0 lead. The Eagles answered with two run of their own in the top of the third inning. In his first collegiate at-bat and on the first pitch he saw,
Leyton Bamesberger began the rally with a single through the right side of the infield.
Matt McHale followed with a single to center field, before a sacrifice bunt from
Mark Cruser moved McHale and Bamesberger to second and third, respectively.
Sean Cottrell picked up right where he left last spring, scoring Bamesberger on a fielders choice to trim the Lynchburg lead to 2-1. Minutes later, McHale stole home on a perfectly executed double steal to tie the contest at 2-2. The Eagles had runners at the corners with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the scoring threat.
The Hornets took the lead back in the bottom half of third on a sacrifice fly and the Eagles were unable to score the equalizer. The Eagles had runners in scoring position in each of the sixth and seventh innings, but left them stranded. Lynchburg added an insurance run on an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth frame to secure the victory.
McHale, Cottrell, Bamesberger,
David Hunsberger, and
Connor Schilling each finished with a hit for the Eagles, while Cottrell finished with the lone RBI. In his first start of the season, junior
John Beck allowed five hits and three runs while striking out four.
The Hornets controlled the second contest from the second inning on, scoring six runs to take a lead they would not relinquish. Lynchburg added one run in the third, three in the fourth, and four in the fifth to secure the doubleheader sweep. Schilling finished 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, while
Jason Hall and
Logan Klember also recorded hits for the Eagles.
The Eagles will head to Myrtle Beach to play six games in four days at The Ripken Experience. Eastern begin its Spring Break against Manchester tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 10:00 am.
