Feb 11

Feb 11 LCC lets early lead slip in season opener at Methodist

LCC lets early lead slip in season opener at Methodist

Lenoir Community College opened its season Tuesday afternoon with an 10–8 loss on the road against Methodist’s junior varsity squad, a game that featured momentum swings, timely hitting and defensive miscues that ultimately proved costly.

The Lancers came out aggressive at the plate and built an early four-run advantage. In the second inning, Charlie Sindahl sparked the offense with a triple down the right-field line. Mason Meyer followed with a sacrifice fly, and LCC had its first run of the year across the plate.

An inning later, the bats stayed hot. Aiden Taylor and Brennan Moran each delivered RBI doubles to stretch the lead. Through three innings, LCC looked in control.

But Methodist responded in the bottom half of the third. Shaikh lined a run-scoring single before Gritz connected on a home run to right field, tying the game and shifting the momentum.

Methodist edged ahead in the fourth on a wild pitch, but the Lancers answered again in the fifth. Moran singled to right, and after a Methodist error, Sindahl ripped another hit down the right-field line. The two-run frame pushed LCC back in front.

The game turned late.

In the eighth inning, Methodist capitalized on defensive mistakes. A fielding error opened the door, a single down the left-field line brought in a run, and another miscue allowed additional damage. The rally gave Methodist the lead for good.

Offensively, LCC out-hit Methodist, 12–7. Moran led the way with three hits and two RBIs. Sindahl collected two hits, including his early triple, and also drove in a pair. Taylor and Cam Thompson each had multiple hits as the Lancers consistently found barrels throughout the lineup.

Riley Williams got the start on the mound and was sharp early, tossing two scoreless innings without allowing a hit while striking out three. Several arms followed in relief as LCC worked through the staff in its first outing of the year.

Despite the loss, there were positives. The Lancers showed depth at the plate, collected extra-base hits, and demonstrated the ability to answer runs with offense of their own. Cleaning up defensive lapses will be a clear emphasis moving forward.

LCC will look to rebound when it travels to Fayetteville Tech in its next matchup.

Here are the notable stats from Lenoir Community College’s season opener at Methodist (LCC only):