Simply put, Lenoir Community College is in a funk.
Ryan Kennedy homered twice and drove in four runs as Wake Tech swept the Lancers with a pair of 5-2 and 8-1 wins in a NJCAA Division II Region X doubleheader on Saturday at Lancer Field.
The losses were a continuation of what has turned into poor play at the wrong time for LCC (28-15, 15-10), which lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.
“It’s contagious,” Lancers head coach Stony Wine said. “We’re just not there mentally right now.”
Kennedy’s solo shot in the opener tied it at 2-all in the sixth inning. Chris Hicks’ RBI single broke the tie in the eighth and Wake Tech’s lead held to drop LCC to 10-3 in doubleheader openers on the year.
Wake Tech (18-21, 11-16) then handed the Lancers their fourth worst defeat this season in the nightcap in a game LCC was never really in.
The Eagles tagged South Lenoir product Jonathan Hardison for three runs to start, then added five more in a third inning that saw Wine use five different pitchers.
Kennedy’s three-run shot to left highlighted the frame for Wake Tech. But it was four walks, a pair of wild pitches and an error that had Wine going to his bullpen just about every other pitch.
“We just didn’t get it done on the mound today,” said Wine, who got another solid start from Troy Jones in the opener but was once again plagued by a lack of run support. “Guys just aren’t coming in prepared.”
North Lenoir product Caleb Kearney was the last pitcher for LCC in the inning and, after being the fifth to touch the ball, inherited a bases loaded situation with two out. Kearney gave up a two-run single to Josh Holcomb, but ended the frame with a flyout, got a double play to retire the side in the fourth then worked around a one-out walk with a pair of strikeouts in fifth to stop the bleeding.
But the Lancers just couldn’t get the hits when they needed.
Ryan Blake’s RBI groundout in the first gave LCC its only run of the second game — its first one-run game since a 2-1 loss at Surry C.C. on March 30.
“We’re not taking a good approach to the game mentally, in all aspects,” Wine said. “It’s spreading like wildfire.”
Since winning a season-best seven in a row LCC has spiraled downward, but Wine isn’t in panic mode yet.
The Lancers will play their final home game of the season today in the rubber match of the three-game series with Wake Tech, then hit the road on Wednesday to play their final four games away from campus.
All teams go through a slump at some point, and Wine feels if his can get it turned around in the next four games the Lancers can be dangerous in the upcoming Region X tournament at Morehead City.
“We’ll get it figured out,” Wine said. “At least they better if they want to keep playing.”
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.