LAURINBURG, N.C. -- The Bluefield College baseball team fell in both games of its Saturday Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader against St. Andrews University, 8-4 and 4-1.
The Rams move to 12-10 overall and 2-7 in conference games with the losses. St. Andrews is now 15-13, 5-3 in AAC games.
Game 1The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, as
Tyler Rome led off the frame with a double and later scored when
Tyler Timmer reached base on an error.
The lead was short lived, though, with the Knights claiming a 3-1 lead on a three-run homer off starter
Alex Haas. The hosts tacked on three more in the next inning, pushing the lead to 6-1.
Bluefield had a three-run inning of its own in the sixth, as
Daniel Copeland,
Ben Rife and
Ryan Lawson all had RBI hits to pull BC back within two, 6-4.
But, St. Andrews added two insurance runs in the bottom half and the Rams were retired in order in their last at-bat.
Haas took the loss for Bluefield while Chris Fee claimed the Knights' victory in 5.2 innings of work while allowing nine hits.
Lawson, Copeland and Rome all logged a pair of hits in the opener.
Game 2Bluefield scored first once again in the second game, when Will Kane knocked in Lawson on a single to right field. Lawson had led off the game with a single of his own. However, that would be the Rams' final run of the day.
Cory Niten had a strong start on the mound for the Rams, allowing just two hits through five innings. After a walk and a hit batter in the sixth, the Knights advanced the runners on a bunt and Niten's day was finished.
Dylan Ruth came on in relief, but the Knights ended up tallying four runs in the frame for the 4-1 lead. The Rams put two on base in the seventh, but couldn't get a run across the plate.
Niten took the loss while Jordan Blair earned the seven-inning, complete game win.
The teams meet again Sunday in the series finale, a nine-inning game. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.
