JACKSON, Tenn. (March 29, 2019) - The red-hot Lane College baseball team came into the weekend series, moved up because of the chance of rain, against SIAC rival Lemoyne-Owen College riding a three-game win streak, the longest of the current season on Thursday afternoon. By Friday evening, the Dragons left Lane Field with a now-record seven-game win streak after sweeping the Magicians in convincing factor.
In the four games spanning over two days, Lane outscored Lemoyne-Owen 53-18, winning the first two games by a combined 34-10 margin.
DAY 1
Game 1
Lane 17, Lemoyne-Owen 3
After taking the lead 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Lane blew the game open, scoring four runs in the bottom of the second and dropping in nine runs in the bottom of the next frame to take a commanding 14-3 lead heading into the top of the fourth. After both teams went scoreless for the next two innings, Lane would drop three more in the bottom of the sixth for the 17-3 final score.
Christian Armstrong finished the game 3-for-5 with six RBI including a three-run shot to left field in the nine-run third inning. He also scored an RBI earlier in the third when he doubled down the left field line to score
Melvin Crayton. He added a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, again to left field. In 25 at-bats, the Dragons only struck out five times total as a team.
Freshman pitcher
Thomas Arias picked up the win for Lane, tossing a complete game for the Dragons. Arias gave up three earned runs off two hits, struck out six and walked one in 7.0 innings.
Game 2
Lane 17, LOC 7
In Game 2 on Thursday afternoon, this time the Dragons put 10 runs on in the bottom of the third to clearly separate themselves from the rivals from Memphis, with none of the runs coming by way of the long ball. Lane would tack on three more in the bottom of the next frame to take a 14-3 lead into the fifth inning.
Zach Elias,
Chris O'Neal, and
Treviz Brown all finished the game with two RBI while the Magicians walked the Dragons seven times in 29 at bats and committed six errors that Lane capitalized on to put up the big numbers.
Junior
Michael Warner was called on to start in Game 2. Warner picked up the win after going 5.0 innings, giving up seven runs, two earned, off eight hits. Terry Davis finished the game in a non-save situation, tossing 2.0 complete hitless innings. He walked one and struck out one in the six batters he faced.
DAY 2
Game 3
Lane 9, LOC 1
Lemoyne-Owen jumped out to a one run lead in the top of the first, their first lead in the three games played so far in this series but that lead was fleeting as that would be the only run the Magicians scored in the game. Lane would take this one 9-1 to pick up their third straight of the series. For the second straight game, Lane relied on putting the ball in play and running the bases rather than the power of the home run ball.
On offense, O'Neal went 3-for-4, Clark finished 2-for-4, while Arias was 1-for-3 with two RBI. On the mound,
Mario Alston pitch a one run, six hit, complete game for the Dragons, striking out seven while walking none.
Game 4
Lane 10, LOC 7
For the second straight game, the Magicians jumped out to a lead in the top of the first but for the first time in the series, the Dragons were not able to respond as Lane had to use an eight-run fifth inning to rally to pick up the win 10-7 to sweep the series and extend their winning streak to seven games. They also picked up a record 11th win of the season, the most in program history and improved to 5-7 in SIAC play. The sweep puts the Dragons in sole possession of third place in the Western Division standings and playoff contention for the second straight season, also a program record.
Armstrong finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with two RBI. Arias and Crayton also drove in two in the come-from-behind win.
The Dragons are back in action this weekend when they head to Alabama to take on Tuskegee University to play a set of doubleheaders. First pitch for Game 1 of the series is set for Saturday at noon.
