LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Dickinson baseball team got their 2022 campaign underway by dropping a hard-fought 4-3 decision in game one of Saturday's season-opening doubleheader at the University of Lynchburg. Then the Red and White dropped the second game 8-7 after completing the game on Sunday morning James C Fox Field.   

Game One - Hornets 4, DEVILS 3

W - Zack Potts (1-1) | L - Matt Spind (0-1) | S - Grayson Thurman (2)

Inside the Game

There would be just one baserunner through the opening two innings as Lynchburg leadoff man Cameron Lane drew a walk against Spind to start the bottom of the first. 

Dickinson got things going in the top of the third as Ryan Thompson reached on an error and Tyler Scaff picked up the first hit of the year for the Devils. A sacrifice bunt made it second and third with one down for Kenny Tagliareni. He would be safe on the second Hornet error of the frame which allowed both men to score. Three batters later after Andrew Mazzone worked a free pass to put men on first and second with two gone Colin Jones extended the lead to 3-0 with a single to left. Luke Jackson ended the rally with a flyout. 

Lynchburg would wrap up the scoring for game one in the home half of the inning plating four men on just two hits. Holden Fiedler began things with a leadoff walk, before coming in on a Carrson Atkins triple. A walk to Gavin Collins and a hit batsman (Lane) loaded the bags for the home side with one out. Spind issued his fourth free pass of the game to Avery Neaves to let one in making it 3-2. That brought Thomas Marshman into the game and after getting a fly ball out of PJ Alvanos he allowed a two-run single off the bat of Jackson Harding for a 4-3 edge through three. 

The Devils put a man into scoring position in three of the final four innings as Thompson doubled with one out in the fourth, but was left at third. Tagliareni started the fifth with a two-bagger to right, however, three straight strikeouts allowed for no damage. Than, Luke Atsalis singled with one down in the seventh and stole second with two away. Unfortunately, Thurman got Tom Gannaway to strike out looking to end the game. 

Game Two - Hornets 8, DEVILS 7 (Suspended after 7 innings)

W - Joseph Hurowitz (1-0)| L - Pat Metzger (0-1) | S - Grayson Thurman (3) 

Inside the Game

Dickinson tried to get something going in the first as Mazzone ripped a two-out double to center, but nothing came of it. Lynchburg made an immediate impact during the home half of the inning against Devils starter Brian Riley as Lane drew a leadoff walk before two men later Collins went yard for the early 2-0 lead. The Hornets then made it 3-0 as Neaves went back-to-back. 

After a one-two-three top of the second, Riley was able to work around a pair of walks in the home half. 

The home side extended their advantage in the third as Neaves and Alvanos stood in scoring position with one out when Riley uncorked a wild pitch allowing Neaves to cross home. 

A scoreless fourth sent the game to the fifth with Lynchburg on top 4-0. Walks to Cole Benner and Chase Weller along with a single for Kaden Sigmon filled the bags with Devils for Tagliareni. He would wear a pitch from Nick Mattfield to force in one. That led to Travis Shumate taking over on the hill and after a pop-up by Gannaway, Mazzone cleared the bases with a three-run double to level the score. However, in the home half of the frame, a sac fly by Jackson Harding off of Pat Metzger gave the hosts the 5-4 edge going to sixth. 

The runs kept coming during inning six when a Pat Harrington ground out brought home Sigmon (5-5) who tripled with one gone. Lynchburg however answered right back in the bottom-half as free passes to Lane and Jackson led to both runners scoring four batters later to make it 7-5. With Fiedler at-bat against Alex Bouchard a miscue in the field allowed Alvanos to come home after he reached with a single. 

Adam Dofflemyer took over on the mound to begin the seventh and gave up two quick knocks to Tagliareni and Gannaway. AA Mazzone ground out drove in one to trim the gap to 8-6 with one away. The Devils added another one a batter later when Jackson plated Gannaway. Bouchard allowed a two-out single in the bottom of the inning, but nothing came of it.

Dickinson would go in order in the eighth, and get one runner in the ninth. However, Mazzone flew out to center to end the game.

On Deck

The Red Devils and Hornets will conclude their three-game set on Sunday as they will finish Saturday's contest starting at noon, with the final game to follow.