Bulls Drop Doubleheader to Longwood

Saturday, March 12

1 pm

2-6

Longwood

12-5

Buffalo

Longwood

3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FARMVILLE, VA - Despite a solid day from sophomore catcher Tom Murphy, the Buffalo Bulls (2-7) were swept on the first day of its two-day series with the Longwood Lancers (13-5). The team dropped game one 15-5 in nine innings and lost 9-6 in seven innnings in game two Saturday afternoon in Lancer Stadium.

The team was doomed by defensive miscues in the first game, committing five errors that led to six unearned runs over the course of the game. The team's offense was kept in check for the first three innings, with the only run coming off a solo home run from Murphy. With the score 4-1 in favor of the Lancers going to the fourth, Buffalo reeled off a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to knot it all up at 4-4 heading to the bottom half of the inning.

The Longwood offense proceeded to take the lead for good, scoring two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, three in the seventh and five in the eighth. The fifth and final Buffalo run came on an RBI single to left field by Murphy, who went 3-5 with two runs and three runs batted in for the game. Kevin Crumb took the loss after giving up eight runs (four earned) in six innings, striking out seven in the process. Both the six innings and the seven punch-outs were season bests for the team.

In game two, the team was doomed by one big inning from Longwood. After scoring two runs in the top of the second inning on another solo home run from Murphy and an RBI single from Michael Burke, Buffalo starter Josh Edwards gave up six runs in the home half of the inning. After pitching the first two outs in the third, he gave way to freshman Cory Folk, who threw 2.1 innings of relief.

The Bulls began to try and chip away at the 6-2 lead, scoring a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly and two more in the fifth on an error by Longwood's shortstop and an run scoring single by River McWilliams. The Lancers kept Buffalo at an arm's length away, though, plating a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth to put the game out of reach. The Bulls didn't quit though and rallied in the seventh inning. With two outs and Daniel Scahill standing at second base, Tom Murphy again came through, lacing a single to center field and scoring Scahill. Singles from McWilliams and Alex Baldock loaded up the bases with the potential winning run at the plate, but Ryan Tulloch grounded out to end the game, 9-6.

The two teams will be right back at it again tomorrow afternoon. First pitch in game one is set for noon.