Lions finish off sweep of Tolman

Tigers improve, but Lincoln pitching too much at Chet Nichols

LINCOLN – The Lincoln High baseball team called upon three pitchers Tuesday afternoon in a 7-1 victory over Tolman in Division I action at Chet Nichols Field.

Julian Horan (three innings), Marcus Mensah (three innings), and Daniel Fish (one inning) teamed up to strike out seven while allowing just two base hits. At this stage of the young season, Lincoln head coach Steve Reynolds feels it’s best to take a cautious approach with the team’s pitching inventory.

“Realistically, we can’t expect anybody to go out there and throw 80 pitches in their first outing of the season,” said Reynolds after the Lions improved to 2-0 with both wins coming at the Tigers’ expense.

Horan was removed after throwing 50 pitches. In came Mensah, who allowed one run, though it was unearned.

“He gave us what we needed today,” said Reynolds about Mensah. “He actually threw 50 pitches right on the dot.

Fish needed six pitches to retire the Tigers in order in the seventh.

“Pitching-wise, it was a good day,” said Reynolds.

At the plate for Lincoln, Jack Bennett finished 3-for-3 while driving in two runs. He singled in a run with two down as part of the Lions’ three-run uprising in the third inning. Fish and Nick Toro each finished with twohits games.

The game was scoreless heading into the third as Horan and Tolman starter Andrew Massey matched zeros. Massey pitched 4.2 innings with three walks and three strikeouts. He departed with the Tigers down 6-0.

“He was giving us a chance and pounding the strike zone,” said Tolman head coach Theo Murray about Massey.

Maybe just maybe, the game would have featured more dramatics had Tolman been able to get down a bunt after the first two runners reached to begin the fifth inning. Murray did call for the bunt with trouble ensuing after no contact. The Tolman runner on second base found himself a little too far off the bag. From behind the plate, Lincoln’s Toro delivered a perfect throw to record the out.

The Tigers (0-2, Division I, 1-2 overall) did get on the scoreboard in the sixth as Cory Pereira singled home Alex Medeiros.

Both teams are

in

action

Wednesday with Lincoln visiting Smithfield while Tolman travels to Cranston West.