Lyon College Scots Inch Closer to AMC Top Spot

Lyon College Scots complete three-game sweep of Hornets; one series left

BATESVILLE, Ark. – The gap between the top teams in the American Midwest Conference became a little smaller over the weekend as the Lyon College Scots baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Harris-Stowe State University, winning 7-2 and 13-6 on Saturday, while Missouri Baptist dropped a game to Hannibal-LaGrange. 

Lyon (28-16, 18-6 AMC), which ran its current winning streak to a league-leading 11-games and is receiving votes for the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, moved to within one-half game of No. 6-ranked and first-place Missouri Baptist (36-10, 18-5 AMC). (RV) William Woods (32-9, 17-7 AMC) is one game behind Lyon and Freed-Hardeman (30-16, 16-8 AMC) trails the Scots by two games.

After a non-conference single-game at Blue Mountain College on Tuesday (2 p.m.), the Scots will wrap up the regular season schedule next Friday (2 p.m.) and Saturday (DH – 12 p.m.) at Park University (16-20, 12-12 AMC). Missouri Baptist has a single game at home Monday against Benedictine University (21-12, 15-8 AMC) and a three-game series at Freed-Hardeman next weekend.

The top eight finishers in the 10-team race qualify for the AMC Postseason Baseball Tournament, which takes place in Springfield, Ill. The league only has one automatic berth in the playoffs this season.

Lyon honored nine seniors before the games. They included pitcher John Almogabar (SR/Houston, Tex.), second baseman Mark Armenteros (SR/Miami, Fla.), pitcher Brenden Camp (SR/Jonesboro, Ark.), pitcher Ben Neyen (SR/Carrollton, Tex.), first baseman Wes Roberson, utility player Preston Smith (JR/Batesville, Ark.), utility player Ty Strickel (SR/Jonesboro, Ark.), third baseman Ryan Vericker (SR/Jonesboro, Ark.) and pitcher Talan Roepcke (SR/Batesville, Ark.).

LYON 7, HARRIS-STOWE 2 (Game 1)

The Scots built a 3-0 lead on Harris-Stowe after three innings, before the Hornets pulled within 3-2 in the top of the sixth. But a four-run sixth for the Scots put the opener away.

Roepcke improved his record to 6-4 on the season as he pitched a five-hitter. He allowed two runs, while walking only one batter.

Danny Chambliss (2-7) took the loss for HSSU. He worked 5.1 innings, allowing six runs (5 earned) on six hits, while striking out two and walking three.

Shortstop Griffin Glaude (JR/Beebe, Ark.) and designated hitter Kevin Manzano (JR/Miami, Fla.) led the Lyon attack with a pair of hits apiece, with each player driving in a run and scoring another.

Scots leftfielder Joe Campbell (JR/Clarkton Mo.) singled, drove in a pair of runs and scored another; catcher Dillon Callicott (FR/Collierville, Tenn.) was 1-for-1, with a walk; Vericker was 1-for-1, driving in a run, scoring another and drawing a walk; and Roberson had a 1-for-2 game at the dish, pushing in a pair of runs and scoring one.

Tony Uyeno paced the Hornets with a 2-for-3 effort, scoring a run.

LYON 13, HARRIS-STOWE 6 (Game 2)

The Scots built an 11-2 lead after five innings in Game 2, before coasting home for a 13-6 win to complete the three-game sweep of the weekend series. Lyon outhit HSSU, 12-8, in the game and took advantage of six Hornet errors.

Camp improved his record to 6-4 on the hill as he picked up the victory. He worked 5.2 frames, allowing six runs (4 earned) on eight hits, with a strikeout and no walks. Almogabar pitched 3.1 innings of hitless baseball to complete the game.

Uyeno, one of six pitchers used by Harris-Stowe, took the setback to fall to 2-6. In two innings he gave up three runs on four hits, with five walks and a pair of strikeouts. HSSU pitchers gave up 11 walks in the game.

Campbell had a perfect 3-for-3 game at the plate, connecting with his fourth triple of the season. He drove in four runs and scored another. Centerfielder Kris Kohlstedt (SO/Maumelle, Ark.) hit his third triple of the year, finishing 2-for-5, with three runs scored and another driven in. Vericker and Glaude were a perfect 2-for-2, with Vericker scoring three times and pushing in a run, while Glaude plated once.

Roberson hit his first home run of the year and third of his career, while scoring three times and picking up two RBIs. Armenteros and Colt Harmon (JR/Greenbrier, Ark.) also singled and drove in a run. Armenteros scored, along with Smith.