At the NCCAA Division II World Series over the past three days, the Lancaster Bible College baseball team proved just how potent they can be when they hit the ball. Unfortunately, they also proved what happens when they don't hit. The Chargers proved the latter on Friday as their season ended with an 8-1 defeat at the hands of Manhattan Christian College.

In their two wins at the NCCAA World Series, the Chargers pounded out 21 hits and 15 runs. In their two losses, the Chargers had four hits and just one run. Things began poorly for LBC on Friday, as Manhattan scored three runs in the top of the first. Defensive miscues have plagued LBC all season and they proved costly again as a past ball led to Manhattan's second run.

The Chargers did nothing with Richard Westerlund's leadoff single in the bottom of the first and didn't record another hit until the fourth inning. Manhattan meanwhile extended their lead to 6-0 in the top of the fourth as they scored two runs that were aided by an error and passed ball.

LBC's Paul Greco had his 53rd and final hit of the season in the fourth inning. Greco broke the previous record of 51 on Thursday, but like Westerlund's hit in the first, the Chargers could do nothing to cut into Manhattan's lead.

Manhattan added a run in the sixth and seventh and held an 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh where the Chargers scored their lone run after a Frank DiFilippo double led off the inning. 

LBC (13-25) managed just three hits and struck out nine times against Manhattan pitching. 

Despite the loss, LBC finished fourth at the NCCAA World Series, their best showing in the four times they have been in the tournament. Greco, Drew Tilley and Spencer Collier will not return due to graduation, but the bulk of the team will be back and all of the freshman who played a lot of innings this season will be one season wiser in 2013 where the Chargers will not only try and build on their NCCAA success, but try and climb the NEAC standings as well.

Notes:
The LBC men's soccer team lost their final game of the season to Manhattan Christian as well...They lost 3-2 in overtime in the Fifth Place Game at the NCCAA National Tournament...Tilley and Collier did not play on Friday because of graduation at LBC...Toccoa Falls defeated Manhattan later on Friday to advance to the Final Series against Florida Christian...Toccoa Falls will need to beat Florida Christian twice to secure the NCCAA World Series Championship, while Florida Christian needs just one win.