Mary Washington baseball falls to Lynchburg at home following costly errors by the Eagles

by THOMAS JACKSON

Sports Editor

On Wednesday afternoon the University of Mary Washington baseball team fell to the University of Lynchburg, 2–7.

The Eagles play another game the next day on Thursday, sophomore geospatial analysis major Eric Powell says that while playing back-to-back games is difficult, support from his teammates keeps them all going. 

“One of our motos as a team is family,” he said. “If one of us is struggling, everyone helps out to pick them up and get them back on their feet. Playing back to back games is tough but I have confidence in all of my teammates to support me and I will support them.”

Graduate business administration major Noah Roots said that while it is a tough stretch for the team, their constant dedication keeps them prepared. 

“I’d say we’re pretty used to it by this point,” he said. “More of just a tough stretch for us, a lot of games. We really just stay connected by, show up early, stay late and hang out a lot.”

The Eagles started with left-handed pitcher, senior business administration major Gavin Riley. After a trio of walks and two earned runs in the first, Riley would go four more innings without giving up another score. 

UMW would go scoreless through the first, but with a double from Powell, the Eagles would score in the bottom of the second. 

After his scoring double, Powell said that the energy and support he felt from the dugout would keep him going the rest of the game.

“It’s the best feeling in the world knowing your team supports you and that they have your back no matter what,” he said. “Watching the team get hype standing on second gave me a confidence boost for the rest of my at bats that game.”

This support and communication is not new for the team, says Roots, with each player supporting the others achievements.

“It’s still early in the season, but it’s always been great,” he said. “Everyone is really behind everyone else and really excited when someone else does well.”

Going into the bottom of the third, UMW would score their second and final point of the day off of a double from Roots.

As the game entered the sixth inning, Riley was swapped out at the mound with freshman  right-handed pitcher Ryan Henson. Henson would only give up one earned run, but two more Lynchburg players would score off of UMW’s two errors. 

Henson echoes Powell’s sentiment that the entire team is a family. Saying that the communication on and off the field has started to come naturally.

“One of the big things we are as a team is trying to be a family, so just constantly talking on and off the field, just it kinda comes naturally to us now,” he said.

To start the seventh inning, junior environmental science major and right-handed pitcher Ryan Northup came in to pitch for the Eagles. 

After having a scoreless seventh, Northup would give up two runs in the eighth before UMW would finish the day with sophomore marketing major and left-handed pitcher Connor Hassan finishing the top of the ninth without giving up a run.

With another game in just over 24-hours, Henson hopes the team stays aggressive while batting and continues having hard contacts on the ball.

“Our at-bats, just staying aggressive,” said Henson. “We had a lot of hard contact today and that’ll lead to more success.”

After the game at Hampden-Sydney College on Feb. 27, the Eagle’s next game will be against Houghton University in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on March 1.

“We realize energy wins games. If we can have more energy than the other team then we will be more confident and win more games,” Powell said. “As the season goes on, confidence and believing in your team is the key to winning.”

Grace Wagner contributed to reporting for this article.