Scots Baseball Team Rolls Past OWU in Opener, 9-4

Courtesy Lyon College Athletics Department

BATESVILLE, Ark. – With temperatures less than ideal for its 2013 opener, the Lyon College baseball team used a solo home run by Bryan Lynn to battle Oklahoma Wesleyan University to a 4-4 tie heading into the bottom of the seventh frame and then blew past the Eagles, 9-4, Friday afternoon at Scots Field.

Despite temperatures throughout the game near freezing, the Scots (1-0) finished the game with 12 hits, while four Lyon hurlers combined to allow just five hits. Brenden Camp (1-0) came out of the LC bullpen to record the victory. He worked 3.0 innings midway through the contest, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits with a pair of strikeouts and no walks.

Talan Roepcke received the starting nod in the opener and lasted four frames, throwing 79 pitches. He surrendered one run (1 earned) on a pair of hits, with four walks and one strikeout before giving way to Camp.

Also seeing action on the Lyon mound was Colten McSpadden, who worked a scoreless frame, while not giving up a hit. Blake Rogers finished up for the Scots, walking one and fanning a pair in one inning on the hill.

Chris Hubacon (0-1) was the losing pitcher for the Eagles. He pitched three innings in relief, surrendering five runs (3 earned) on six hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.

Six different Lyon College batters recorded hits in the contest, led by first baseman Lynn and third baseman Colby Rogers. Lynn drove in a pair of runs and scored three times as he finished the day 3-for-5. His solo shot in the bottom of the first inning bounced off the top of the leftfield fence and went over to put LC ahead 1-0.

Colby Rogers also had a 3-for-5 effort for Lyon, as the number three, four and five batters in the lineup finished the game 8-for-13 at the dish. Rogers finished 3-for-4, with two runs scored and another driven in, while connecting with a pair of doubles. Rightfielder Wesley Roberson had a 2-for-4 effort, scoring twice, while pushing in another run. He also doubled in the contest.

Other Lyon players picking up hits included designated hitter second baseman Roger Gaude (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Ryan Coles (1-for-2, 2 BB) and Will Lindsey (1-for-3, 2 RBI).

Jarett Hardy paced the Oklahoma Wesleyan attack, posting a 2-for-4 effort, tagging a double. Eagle designated hitter Nick Palese hit a solo home run over the left-center fence.

After taking an early lead, the Scots saw OWU tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the second, until Caleb Durant and Roberson scored in the bottom of the third to put LC ahead 3-1.

The Eagles fought back to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh, but Lyon College sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the frame as Roberson, Lynn, Rogers and Coles each crossed the plate to put the game on ice.

Lyon College and OWU will conclude the three-game series on Saturday back at Scots Field, with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12-noon.