BASEBALL NEWS


LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Sports Release                                                                                             February 2, 2008

Treece Blasts Railsplitters Past Pacers In 13 Innings

AIKEN, SC-- Derek Treece belted two home runs including a clutch three-run blast in the top of the 13th inning to lead Lincoln Memorial (1-1) to an early season 9-5 upset win over 31st-ranked USC Aiken (1-1) on Saturday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.

The game was the second longest in the five-year history of the Pacers’ new ballpark, trailing only a 15-14 win by USCA over rival USC Upstate in 14 innings back on February 13, 2005.

Chad Jacobsen got the Pacers going in the bottom of the third with a one-out, RBI double to left field scoring Cody McMorris for the game’s first scratch.  Gary Owens followed up the Jacobsen two-bagger with a triple to center field, plating Matt Key and Jacobsen to make it 3-0.  USCA tacked on an unearned run to go up 4-0 after three. 

Jacobsen finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three walks while Owens just missed hitting for the cycle, going 4-for-7 with two singles, a double, and one triple, driving in three.  Chris Grandinetti was the only other Pacer with a multiple-hit day, finishing 2-for-5. 

Treece led off the top of the fourth with a solo shot over the wall in left center to get the Railsplitters on the board at 4-1. 

It was the only mistake Pacer starter Beau Hill made, allowing only four hits, the one run, walking one and fanning three in 5.0 innings of work. 

Leading by the same score in the top of the eighth, LMU got to reliever Houston Taylor.  After striking out TeWayne Willis, Taylor let up four-straight singles as Lincoln Memorial would move in front 5-4. 

A one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth to Jacobsen set the table for Owens to be the hero.  The newcomer doubled off the wall in left center, tying the game with Jacobsen crossing home, but trying to stretch for third, was gunned down to end the scoring threat. 

After three scoreless innings, the Railsplitters got the eventual game winner on a wild pitch from Edwin Keeler, allowing Bryon Izzo to scamper home from third.  Treece promptly smacked a three-run blast for insurance as USC Aiken threatened, but failed to score in their last at-bats. 

Treece finished 3-for-7 with four RBI, two home runs, and three runs scored.  Ralph Rosas added a 2-for-4 afternoon with one RBI. 

Taylor (0-1) suffered the loss for USC Aiken while Cody Pack (1-0) notched the win for LMU in 2.0 innings of hitless relief. 

USC Aiken and Lincoln Memorial will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow at 1:00 PM.
 

-LMU-

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Head Coach:  Jeff Sziksai
Phone:  (423) 869-6345