Lincoln University, PA | In the first-ever meeting between the two sides, Lincoln University turned aside the College of Staten Island Baseball team as part of East Coast Conference play in the first of a three-game set between the two sides.  The Lions scored in all but one inning of the game, scoring a 15-6 win.  Winners of four in a row, Lincoln moved to 4-6 overall and 4-0 in the ECC, while CSI fell to 1-10 overall and 1-9 in the ECC.

After CSI failed to plate a run in the first inning despite a walk to the lead off batter, it was Lincoln's turn to set the tone, and they did so against starter John Esposito.  A two-out single by Alex Jones was backed up by a towering home run by Elias Beltre, giving the home side a quick 2-0 lead.  The lead would grow to 5-0 an inning later, powered by a Max Guadalupe two-RBI single and then a sac fly by Jones that chased home Willie Hines.

CSI slapped back to the tune of a four-run third inning against Lincoln starter Trevon Sutton.  With the bases loaded thanks to an error, a hit by pitch and infield single, CSI scored their first run on a two-out wild pitch, and then another two runs came in on another error before Thomas Joyce knocked in Steven Collica via a single, making it 5-4.

Sutton got out of the jam from there and then his hitters stepped up to increase the lead in the bottom half of the third.  Kashif Hill doubled with one out to start the onslaught and Hilman Truss followed with an RBI-triple.  He would come home on a Jordan Rorer double and then later he was plated by Hines to make it an 8-4 game.

After LU scored another in the fourth to chase Esposito, CSI got a run back in the fifth, when Joyce singled home Thomas Marten who doubled in the inning.  But the Lions were up for the response with two runs in their half thanks to another RBI-hit from Jones, this time bringing in two to make it 11-5.  CSI would add a run in the eighth to make it 12-6, but LU had another three-run response in teh eighth to seal it at 15-6.

Sutton went six full innings in teh win, yielding five runs (one earned) on five hits, fanning seven.  Esposito took the loss, going three full innings, yielding nine runs on 11 hits.  Lincoln out-hit CSI, 18-6.  Truss led the way, going 4-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.  LU's top four in the batting order went a combined 8-19, with nine RBI and seven runs scored.  Joyce went 4-5 for CSI with two RBI and one run scored, while Marten went 2-4 with two RBI.

The two teams will finish the series on Saturday, with a doubleheader beginning at 12 Noon at the Lincoln Baseball Complex.