OLD GOLD AND BLACK REPORTER
Senior Dave Lardieri came within a triple of hitting for the cycle in the Deacons' Tuesday win over Elon.
Holmes
The baseball team exploded for 24 runs and split its opening games in a tournament at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. this weekend. The Deacons buried the homestanding Cadets 14-7 Saturday, then fell 11-10 to Furman Sunday, giving the team a 1-1 record.
Tuesday found the Deacons back home in Hooks Stadium, where the team captured a win in its first home contest of the year with an 11-9 squeaker over Elon.
Senior pitcher Michael Holmes earned the win against the Citadel, but his ERA took a beating in the process. Last year's team MVP struck out five and walked only one Cadet in six innings of work. However, he also gave up six runs on 10 hits.
The Cadets rang up four unanswered runs in the first inning, but the Deacons took control in the second and third innings, pounding out five runs to seize a 5-4 lead.
The Cadet's starting pitcher was pulled after surrendering two runs in the sixth. The Deacons took advantage of The Citadel's bullpen, knocking home seven runs in the final three innings.
Senior designated hitter Dave Lardieri, an all-conference performer last season, batted in two runs with a home run and a double. Sophomore catcher Andrew Riepe batted in three runs and scored three himself on three-of-five hitting.
Deacon freshman hurler Mike MacDougal pitched three innings in relief, striking out three and giving up one run on four hits.
Fourteen Deacons tagged home on 14 hits and seven walks. The team's defense bent, allowing seven runs, but did not break, committing no errors.
The hit parade continued against Furman Sunday, but the results were not so sweet. The Paladins scored four runs in the eighth inning and the Deacons sealed their fate by failing to score a run in the final three innings.
The Deacons led 5-0 after three innings, but the Paladin bats came alive in the fourth. Deacon Head Coach George Greer called the bullpen after starting pitcher sophomore John Hendricks gave up a run in the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-3.
The Paladins made freshman right-hander Jeremy Ward's first time on the mound a memorable one, burning him for four runs in one-third of an inning, leaving him with a 108.00 ERA. Ward gave way to senior right-hander Mike Ramseyer, who fared no better.
Ramseyer gave up four runs in 2 2/3 innings of work and was saddled with the loss.
The Deacon sluggers did their damage early and often, racking up all 10 runs in the first six innings. The team out-hit Furman 15-9, including eight extra base hits, but shot itself in the foot with seven walks and two errors.
Junior first baseman Kevin Troupe hit a homer and a single with one base on balls in four at bats. Sophomore second baseman Jon Palmieri scored three runs and also hit hit his first triple of the year.
Tuesday saw the Deacons spot Elon a three-run lead in their first round at the plate before responding with the game's next eight tallies.
The home team's breakthrough came in the fourth, when the Deacons exploded for six unearned runs off four Elon errors.
The guests responded with two runs in the fifth and four more in the seventh to draw within a 10-9 deficit of the Deacons, but the home team carved out some breathing room with an insurance run in the eighth.
Lardieri had a monster game for the Deacons, going four-for-five at the plate and driving in three runs as the designated hitter.
Lardieri came within a triple of hitting for the cycle.
The Deacons have a full week ahead of them. The squad hosts Appalachian State Thursday, and hosts a two game weekend series against Maryland-Eastern Shore. The squad will take to the road for a rematch with Elon Tuesday, and return home to host North Carolina A&T on Wednesday.