HICKORY, N.C. – Playing away from Founders FCU Stadium for the first time in the 2018 campaign, the Limestone College baseball team fell behind early and could not make up the difference as Lenoir-Rhyne University picked up a 13-2 nonconference decision on Wednesday, February 14.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Lenoir-Rhyne 13, Limestone 2
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (7-2), Limestone (5-3)
Location: Lenoir-Rhyne University Baseball Field
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Limestone managed just four hits on the night, half of which went for homeruns
• Junior Zach Piazza (Huntingtown, Md.) went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a solo homerun
• Junior Chase Allen (Sharpsburg, Ga.) added his first homerun of the year
• Sophomores Brandon Banks (Rock Hill, S.C.) and Trace Whetsell (Gilbert, S.C.) both tallied a base hit
• Sophomore starter Garrett Sutton (Gastonia, N.C.) was tagged with the loss
• He gave up five runs, three earned, on three hits and a walk in a third of an inning
• Sophomore Jonathon Ivey (Taylors, S.C.) tossed a perfect inning out of the bullpen

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Innings 1-3
 
A leadoff walk in the bottom of the first would come back to haunt the Blue and Gold as the home-standing Bears capitalized with a five-spot in the frame. A pair of walks by Piazza and a base of balls by Allen was the only offense that Limestone could muster over the first three innings of play.  
 
Innings 4-6
 
In the top of the fourth, Allen put Limestone on the board as his first homerun of the season trimmed the margin to 5-1. Lenoir-Rhyne started the home half of the frame with runners on second and third, but sophomore Trey Huber (Prosperity, S.C.) was able to tightrope out of the jam to keep the score the same.
 
The Saints looked to get something going in the sixth as Banks and Whetsell came through with back-to-back two-out knocks, but the rally would come up short as the next batter grounded out to end the threat. The Bears would take advantage of their two-out rally in the sixth as an RBI double made it 6-1 game.
 
Innings 7-9
 
Lenoir-Rhyne put the game well out of reach following the seventh-inning stretch, touching up the Limestone bullpen for seven runs in the frame. The Bears sent 10 batters to the plate and posted four doubles in the frame as the home team opened up a commanding 13-1 advantage.
 
Piazza would hit a leadoff homerun for the Blue and Gold in the top of the eighth, but it would not be enough as the Saints dropped their first road game of the season.
 
TURNING POINT
 
The Bears opened the evening with five runs in the bottom of the first, putting the game out of reach early on. Limestone would get a pair of solo homeruns, but was never really able to get back into the contest.
 
NOTABLES
 

• The Saints have lost four straight road openers
• Limestone has not finished with a winning record on the road since the 2000 season
• The Blue and Gold have dropped seven straight to the Bears, and fall to 4-14 all-time in Hickory
• Allen smacked his 22^nd career homerun while Piazza added his 21^st career dinger

 
UP NEXT
 
The Saints return to the friendly confines of Founders FCU Stadium this weekend as they host LIU Post and Gannon University in the Limestone Classic. The Classic will feature six games over three days, starting with a doubleheader with the Pioneers on Friday, February 16 at 4 p.m.  
 
Gannon with then square off against LIU Post in a doubleheader on Saturday before closing the weekend with two against Limestone on Sunday.