NEWS
Lincoln
University Baseball Report
March 29, 2004
Curtis'
hot bat lifts Lincoln to doubleheader sweep
By Rob Knox
WASHINGTON,
D.C. - Vincent Curtis had the magic stick during the second game of the
Lincoln University baseball team's doubleheader last week against host Gallaudet
University.
Lincoln mixed speed, power, timely hitting and dominant pitching
to emerge from the nation's capitol with a pair of much-needed triumphs.
Curtis,
a sophomore leftfielder, had a very productive second game as the Lions completed
a sweep of the Bison with a 16-2 six-inning thrashing. Lincoln also won the first
game, 11-9 to earn its initial victory of the 2004 season. The Lions pounded out
11 hits in the first game.
Curtis was 4-for-5 with a home run and a double
for Lincoln in the second game. Curtis also drove in four runs to help Matt Sample
earn the pitching victory for the Lions. Overall, Lincoln sprayed 18 hits all
over the field during the second game. The Lions took control of the game by zooming
to a 6-0 lead after three and a half innings. The Lions then put the game away
by crossing the plate 10 times in the fifth and sixth innings. After Gallaudet
sliced its deficit to 6-2 in the fourth inning, Lincoln scored four times in the
fifth inning and six more times in the sixth to make the journey up Interstate
95 a happy one.
Curtis also had help from first baseman Marcus Bradford,
who also drove in four runs on a pair of hits. Sample supplemented his seven strikeout
performance with three hits. Anthony CianFerano, Raylan Rodriguez and Joshua
DeBeary also chipped in with two hits each in the second game.
The
first game was a lot closer.
Lincoln overcame an early 4-3 deficit to take
control of the game with a five-run fourth inning. Kelvin Rawlinson, who
smacked his first home run of the season, allowed one run in the final two innings
to earn the save for Lincoln winning pitcher Arlin Alvarez. The key to
victory for Lincoln was its ability to steal bases. The larcenous Lions stole
nine bases.
In addition to turning in five quality innings on the mound,
Alvarez had a wonderful afternoon swinging the bat. Alvarez was 4-for-5 with three
runs batted in. Curtis chipped in with two hits and three runs scored. CianFerano
(two runs scored) and DeBeary each drove in a pair of runs.
After Lincoln
grabbed a 10-4 lead, the Lions had to hold off the Bison, who rallied to within,
10-8 heading into the seventh inning.
Unfortunately, the excitement generated
from the Lions doubleheader conquest quickly dissipated Sunday when Lincoln dropped
a pair of games of St. Mary's (Md.) College, 21-0 and 19-2. The Lions (2-9 overall)
return to the field Wednesday afternoon for a nonleague game when they host Haverford
College (3 p.m.).
