GREENSBORO, N.C. – Senior A.J. Llorente (Williamsport, Pa./Montoursville Area) paced the Lycoming College baseball team with five hits and three RBI during a Saturday doubleheader with Guilford College, leading the team to an 11-5 opening-game win before Guilford won the second game, 6-2, on Feb. 14, at McBane Field.
 
A three-hit performance from Llorente and a strong long-relief outing from freshman right-hander Brayden Maksimik (Shenandoah, Pa./Shenandoah Valley) helped the Lycoming College baseball team improve to 2-0 with an 11-5 win over Guilford in the opener.
 
Lycoming (2-1) opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning, taking advantage of two early walks before Llorente punched a single up the middle to score senior outfielder Nick Reeder (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area). Senior third baseman Brody Lindsey (Monrovia, Md./DeMatha Catholic) then laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to bring home senior infielder Sean Perkins (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) for the early lead. The Warriors blew the game open with four runs in the second, highlighted by a bases-loaded walk to Perkins, a sacrifice fly from Llorente, and a two-run double to left by Lindsey that extended the margin to 6-0.
 
Lycoming continued to apply pressure with two runs in the fourth, as junior outfielder Anthony Guzman (Inglewood, Calif./Paramount) singled up the middle to drive in two, with both runs scoring on the play after an error. Guilford answered with a two-run homer in the third, but Maksimik steadied the Warriors with 3 1/3 innings of one-run relief.
 
In the seventh, sophomore infielder Kaden Shay (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport Area) pushed the lead to 9-3 with a squeeze bunt, scoring freshman infielder Miles Pealer (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny). Lycoming capped its day with two runs in the ninth, as junior outfielder Tyler Iams (Paoli, Pa./Great Valley) drove a two-run homer to left-center.
 
Llorente finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run, while Lindsey added a double and three RBI. Guzman posted two RBI, and Shay logged a double, two runs and an RBI. As a team, Lycoming totaled seven hits, 11 RBI, two doubles, a home run, eight walks and three stolen bases.
 
On the mound, Llorente started and worked 3.2 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts. Maksimik (1-0) earned the win by delivering 3.1 innings of relief, striking out five while allowing just one earned run. Senior right-hander Joel Inman (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) closed the final 1.2 innings without allowing a hit. The Warriors' pitching staff combined for 9 strikeouts.
 
Guilford (1-3) was paced by Ryne Rodrigues, who homered and drove in two, while Chris Shoemaker finished 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
 
In the second game, sophomore catcher Tyler Wetzel (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) doubled and scored, and Llorente delivered a pair of hits and an RBI, but a six‑run fourth inning by Guilford proved decisive in a 6–2 decision.
 
Lycoming broke through in the third, as Wetzel ripped a double down the third‑base line with one out. Freshman outfielder Josh Bottger (Wilkes‑Barre, Pa./Wilkes‑Barre Area) followed with an RBI single to shortstop, taking second on the throw as Wetzel scored to give Lycoming a 1–0 lead. Moments later, Llorente delivered again, singling to right to bring home Bottger and push the Warriors' advantage to 2–0.
 
Senior right‑hander Landon Evans (Millville, Pa./Millville) held Guilford scoreless through the first two innings, allowing only one hit and inducing a key 6–3 double play to end the first. He exited after two innings of one‑run ball (no earned runs), four walks and one hit allowed. Senior right‑hander Mason Drozal (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) (0-1) entered in the third and worked a scoreless frame, but the Quakers broke through in the fourth with six runs on six hits, highlighted by a grand slam from Rodrigues that opened up a 6–2 lead.
 
The Warriors threatened again in the fourth when junior outfielder Eric MacCluen (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) doubled to left and advanced on a bunt by Evans, but a double play ended the inning. In the fifth, Shay doubled to left‑center and moved to third on an error, but Guilford induced a groundout to halt the rally.
 
Sophomore Lex Nelsen (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) was sharp in relief, firing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts while allowing no hits or walks.
 
Lycoming totaled seven hits, including three doubles, with Llorente (2-for-2, RBI, walk) and Wetzel (1-for-2, double, run) pacing the offense. Bottger drove in a run, and Shay added a double. Defensively, the Warriors turned two double plays and committed no errors.
 
Guilford was led by Trae Pitts (3-for-4, RBI) and Rodrigues, who hit the grand slam in the fourth. Starting pitcher Marcello Ricigliano (1-0) earned the win with six innings of two-run work.
 
The Warriors are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 21, when they head to Marymount (Va.) for a 12 p.m. doubleheader.