Box Score
ANNVILLE, Pa. – Comeback victories are starting to become old hat for the Lebanon Valley College baseball team.
For an amazing fourth game in a row, the Flying Dutchmen came from behind to win on their last at-bat, defeating Widener University 12-11 in 10 innings in a Commonwealth Conference tilt at a bitter-cold, blustery McGill Park Thursday afternoon.
Sophomore Brandon Thompson belted a 2-2 pitch through the left side, just beyond the reach of diving third baseman Tom Connelly to score classmate Brandon Stoothoff from third, ending a game that lasted nearly four hours.
The win allowed Lebanon Valley (6-13, 2-5 CC) to finish 4-0 on four straight walk-off wins during its four-game homestand.
Junior Chris Schank enjoyed a perfect day at the plate for the Valley, going 4-for-4. Thompson went 3-for-7 with two runs and three RBIs. In addition to his game-winning hit, he also had a big two-run double during a five-run Dutchman ninth.
Freshman reliever Josh Muscalus earned the win for the Valley, throwing the final six innings to earn his first collegiate victory.
Matt Fischer finished 4-for-6 with three doubles, a home run, and three RBIs for Widener (17-6, 6-3 CC).
The Dutchmen trailed 9-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth when senior Richie Schwartz got things started by drawing a walk against Widener reliever Anthony Carter. Schank and junior John Mentzer followed up with back-to-back singles to load the bases before Carter was relieved by Matt Zebley.
Freshman Grant Wiest greeted Zebley with a single to right, making it 9-5 before Stoothoff came off the bench to work a bases-loaded, pinch-hit walk. Two batters later, Thompson launched a fly ball that was caught up in a gusting wind that was blowing out to right all afternoon. The ball dropped into right-center and allowed two runs to score, making it 9-8.
After a fielder’s choice, the Dutchmen were down to their last strike out when senior Dan Kelly reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Thompson to score with the tying run. Zebley got a strikeout to end the inning.
The Pride came back with two runs in the top of the 10th. Leadoff hitter Mike Villari got on with a one-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Kevin Fisher singled and moved to second on an outfield error. Another wild pitch allowed both runners to move up a bag, and Villari scored to make it 10-9. Brian Campbell then drove in Fisher with a sacrifice fly to give Widener a two-run lead before Muscalus got out of it with a groundout.
With the sun beginning to set in the bottom of the inning, Schank led off with an infield single. After a fielder’s choice, Wiest came through with his second straight hit, singling sharply into center. Stoothoff followed up with a towering shot to right-center, driving home a pair of runs with a triple to tie it at 11-11.
Walt Albright came on in relief to face freshman Charlie Parker, who was intentionally walked to set up the double play. But the Pride would not get the chance to turn two, as Thompson connected for his second walk-off hit in his last four games. He also drove in the game-winning run with a single in the Dutchmen’s 7-6 win over Scranton on Sunday.
Widener led 7-1 before LVC started to chip away, scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run triple from junior Corey Lamoureux and an infield RBI-single from Kelly. The Pride pushed across single runs in the seventh and the ninth, when Fischer drilled a solo homer to right to give Widener its 9-4 lead.
Sophomore Nick Faria started on the hill for the Dutchmen and threw four innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits. He struck out two, walked two, and picked off two runners. Muscalus (1-2) surrendered five runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk. He struck out four.
Zebley (2-1) absorbed the loss for Widener. Pride starter Tristan Harner worked six innings and gave up four runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out five.
Kelly and Wiest finished with two hits apiece while Wiest scored twice. Stoothoff had three RBIs.
Lebanon Valley and Widener conclude their three-game season series on Friday with a doubleheader at Widener.
[Photo - Sophomore Brandon Stoothoff]
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