March 20, 2008
CLINTON, S.C.--Despite two home runs and five RBIs from Ryan Lavarnway, Yale (5-11) dropped a 16-11 decision to Presbyterian (6-10) at the PC Baseball Complex on Thursday. The Blue Hose scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to break open an 11-11 tie, then sent the Bulldogs down in the ninth to secure the victory in a game that had been postponed from Wednesday because of rain.
The Bulldogs got on the board first on Chris Sweeney's two-run single in the top of the second and added another run on Gant Elmore's first career home run leading off the third. The Blue Hose tied it with three in the bottom of the third before Yale went back in front with an unearned run in the top of the fourth.
Presbyterian took an 8-5 lead with five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Zac Rhinesmith started the inning with a single through the left side, then Cory Lyda walked. Robert Anders dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but pitcher Alex Christ mishandled the ball and Anders beat the throw to first. Kyle Craven's single drove in a run, then Nate Horton was hit by a pitch with the bases still loaded. Matthew Smith came in to relieve Christ and gave up an RBI single to Drew Wingo. Presbyterian scored two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a groundout before Smith got out of the inning.
Josh Cox and P.J. Gorynski belted back-to-back singles leading off the fifth, but Cox was picked off third with Lavarnway batting. On the next pitch, Lavarnway crushed a two-run shot to left field for his 27th career home run, moving him past Tony Paterno into first place on Yale's all-time list. Lavarnway came up again with two on and two out in the top of the sixth, and his three-run blast put the Bulldogs in front, 9-8. It was his eighth round-tripper of the year and marked the second time this season that Lavarnway has homered in consecutive at-bats.
The Blue Hose went back in front with a three-spot of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Horton singled to center, moved to third on a Wingo double, and scored on a wild pitch. Wingo came around on a single by Jesse Harmon, who later scored to make it 11-9.
Yale tied it with two unearned runs in the top of the eighth. After Cox singled and Gorynski walked to start the inning, left-hander Steven Henry was brought in to face Lavarnway. Lavarnway delivered a double-play ball to third, but beat the throw from second. The throw was wild, and Cox scored on the error. After Jake Doyle walked, Trygg Larsson-Danforth beat out another double-play grounder and this time Horton, the first baseman, dropped the throw from short, allowing Lavarnway to score the tying run.
Presbyterian scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the eighth, and benefited from two Yale errors. Rhinesmith gave the Blue Hose the lead with an RBI single to left center. Another run scored when Cox overran the ball. After Lyda was intentionally walked to set up the double play, Anders roped an RBI double to right. Craven followed with a two-run single to left that increased Presbyterian's lead to 16-11. Pinch hitter Andy Megee doubled to start the top of the ninth, but he was stranded on second base and the Blue Hose earned the victory.
Yale had 16 hits as a team, led by three each from Cox and Lavarnway. Lavarnway also scored three runs. Every Bulldog starter had at least one hit, and all but Sweeney scored at least once. Christ lasted three innings, giving up eight runs (six earned) and six hits while striking out five and walking three. Smith and Vinny Lally combined to give up three runs and six hits in 2.1 innings. John Henry Davis shut the Blue Hose down in 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one. Chris Walsh (0-2) took the loss after giving up five runs and four hits in 0.1 innings.
Every Presbyterian starter had at least one hit, and everyone except for number-eight hitter Jared Combs had two or more. Craven went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Lyda and Anders each scored three times. Eric Tatum got the start for the Blue Hose and gave up seven runs (six earned) and 12 hits while striking out two and walking one in five innings. Micah Black followed, and Henry (1-0) earned the win after giving up one hit while striking out one and walking one over the final two innings.
Yale concludes its 16-game Spring Break road trip with three games at Radford (9-8). The Bulldogs and Highlanders square off in a single game on Friday at 2:30 p.m., and a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity