The Lincoln Christian University (LCU) baseball team began a southern road trip making their first stop at Holly Springs, MS, on Friday, March 8, 2013, to take on NCAA Div. III Rust College (RC). LCU grabbed another sweep as they won both games in their double-header against RC with scores of 12-6 and 14-3.
LCU (4-0) had the bats in their favor in the first inning, quickly putting up two runs in the top half of the inning. RC (0-4) responded with two of their own runs in the bottom half of the inning. It was all LCU rest of the way as they went on to out-score RC, 10-4, after the second inning. Senior pitcher Justin Walen (Shelbyville, IL/Shelbyville High) and sophomore pitcher Micah Wolfe (Mattoon, IL/Univ. NW Ohio) both got into action as Walen gave up three earned runs in three innings and Wolfe gave up one earned run in four innings.
In the second game, LCU again jumped out in the first inning, scoring two runs. RC countered by scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning. However this game was much different as LCU took control by six runs in the third inning and four in the fourth inning. For the first time in the last two years, LCU was able to achieve a 10-run rule on an opposing team after the five-inning mark. Sophomore pitcher Joey Burge (Lincoln, IL/John Wood CC) got the start and the win for LCU as he gave up only one earned run in his five innings. He also held RC to five hits in the game.
LCU’s Wolfe had a big day at the plate as he went 5-9, scoring six runs, three of them doubles. Sophomore Brennan Nassiff (Ankeny, IA/Ankeny High) went 3-6 from the plate, while also recording two RBI’s. Sophomore Landon Liga (Saint James, NY/Smithtown High) went 4-8 from the plate recording a team-high five RBI’s on the day. Ty Unger (Lincoln, IL/Lincoln Community HS) recorded his first collegiate home run in the first game.