No. 16 Scots Bounce Victory in Non-League Tilt, 8-2

Courtesy Lyon College Athletics Department

BATESVILLE, Ark. – Lyon College senior third baseman Colby Rogers hit a towering three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth frame to break open a 2-2 tie as he led the 16th-ranked Scots baseball team to an 8-2 win over Victory University in non-conference action at Scots Field Tuesday afternoon.

The win improved Lyon to 39-9 on the season as they head into the final week of regular season action. The Scots, who have won nine of their last 10 games, are tied with No. 22-ranked Missouri Baptist University (27-8) for first place in the American Midwest Conference race, as both teams hold identical 21-3 league records. Lyon College can clinch the top seed in the upcoming AMC Postseason Tournament by sweeping Williams Woods University (21-14, 15-7 AMC) in the four-game series Friday and Saturday in Fulton, Mo.

Missouri Baptist also has four conference games remaining this weekend, traveling to Benedictine University (16-15, 12-9 AMC). If Lyon and MBU finish in a tie, the Scots will hold the top seed heading into the five-team tournament in Springfield, Ill. on April 26-30 because the Scots won 3-of-4 from the Spartans this season. The AMC Tournament winner receives an automatic bid into the NCAA National Tournament in early May.

Lyon College had its hands full with the Eagles (27-15) in the early going on Tuesday. After the Scots scored a run in the first and third frames, Victory scored a run in the top of the fourth and fifth frames to knot the score at 2-2.

But Rogers came to the plate with junior Will Lindsey standing at second and junior Wesley Roberson on first and belted a 1-0 pitch over the left-center field fence to give the Scots the lead for good. Lyon then added three insurance runs in the seventh to put the game away.

Colby Rogers finished the game 2-for-5 at the dish, with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Senior first baseman Bryan Lynn went 2-for-4, with a run pushed in, and freshman catcher Blake Rogers posted a pair of singles.

Lyon freshman rightfielder Joseph Sitzman doubled and drove in two runs, while scoring one himself for the Scots. Lindsey went 1-for-4, with an RBI and a run scored, senior designated hitter Jim Gossett finished 1-for-3 and Robertson tripled in three at-bats, scoring a run and driving in another run. Freshman centerfielder Kris Kohlstedt had a 1-for-4 game, with a walk and a pair of runs scored.

Lyon College outhit Victory University, 12-7. The Eagles committed two errors, while the Scots finished with none, to help the Scots completed the 2-0 sweep of the season series with the Eagles.

Third baseman Holden Watts led Victory offensively, with a 2-for-4 contest, connecting with a double and driving in a run.

Senior Colten McSpadden (4-1) started the game on the hill for the Scots and picked the win after working six innings. He gave up two runs on six hits, with three walks, before giving way the three different Lyon relievers for the final three innings.

Senior Kyle Matthews pitched the seventh inning for the Scots, and didn’t allow a hit. Junior Talan Roepcke worked the eight without giving up a hit and junior John Almogabar finished the contest in the ninth, surrendering just one hit.

Ryan Pratt was the losing pitcher for Victory University in relief. In 0.1 innings he allowed two runs (one earned) on no hits, with a walk.

AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE STANDINGS