Box Score
ANNVILLE, Pa. – Senior catcher Tim Rink (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock) went for 4-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs to lead Lebanon Valley to a 14-3 Commonwealth Conference win over Susquehanna University at McGill Baseball Park in LVC's 2003 home opener.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Lebanon Valley (8-2, 4-0 CC) scored eight unanswered runs after plating one in the first, three in the third and four in the fourth. The Flying Dutchmen ended up scoring at least once in every inning but the second.
The win was LVC's fourth Commonwealth victory in three days and extended the team's winning streak to six. Susquehanna (3-6, 0-3 CC) lost its fourth straight game.
The Flying Dutchmen exploded for a season-high 19 hits, and their 14 runs were also a season-high. LVC has now outscored its opponents 34-6 in its last four games, all Commonwealth contests.
Senior third baseman Joe Zielke (Media, Pa./Penncrest) and junior second baseman Chris Hotchkiss (Chantilly, Va./Chantilly) each went 3-for-6 at the plate while sophomore shortstop Scott Montgomery (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township), senior designated hitter Mike Worthington (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and junior outfielder Jeff Grieger (Riegelsville, Pa./Wilson) added a pair of hits apiece.
LVC's 14 runs were the most the team has scored since defeating Susquehanna 17-4 on March 23 of last season. The Valley's 19 hits marked the team's best effort at the plate since the Dutchmen ripped 19 hits in a 13-5 win over Delaware Valley on April 13 last year.
Sophomore left-hander Craig Denlinger (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) (1-0) allowed just two hits in four innings of relief to pick up the win. He walked three, struck out one and gave up two runs. Junior right-hander Joe Guistina (1-1) was charged with the loss after allowing eight runs on 12 hits over the first four innings.
Senior starting pitcher Kyle Rineer (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) threw four innings and received a no-decision. The right-hander yielded four hits, three walks and one run while striking out one.
Zielke threw a scoreless ninth inning for the Dutchmen.
Sophomore outfielder Ronald Weaver (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) went 1-for-4 with a single to push his hitting streak to nine.
Doubles by freshman shortstop Chris Mothershed and junior catcher Bob Haile put the Crusaders up 1-0 in the top of the first. LVC scratched out an unearned run in the bottom of the inning with Rink singling home Hotchkiss.
LVC went ahead for good after a four-hit third. Rink and Grieger each ripped an RBI single and Weaver drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
LVC continued its hit parade with five safeties in the fourth. Rink drove in his third run with another RBI single before the Valley pushed home three more runs with two outs. Grieger laced a double down the leftfield line to score one and Weaver stroked a single to center to plate two more Dutchmen.
Susquehanna put a run on the board in the fifth but LVC put the game out of reach with five runs from the fifth through seventh innings, giving the Dutchmen a commanding 13-2 lead. Rink led off the sixth with a towering homer that glanced off the bottom of the scoreboard.
Lebanon Valley returns to Commonwealth play on Thursday when the team hosts Albright College at 3 p.m. back at McGill Park.
[Photo - Senior catcher Tim Rink, who went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs and a home run against Susquehanna on Tuesday]
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