Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley held on after taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning to win its Commonwealth Conference opener, 5-4, against defending champion Messiah on Friday at McGill Field.

The Dutchmen (10-11-1, 1-0 CC) got seven strong innings from Shane Specht (2-2) as he picked up the win, and Nate Blough threw two innings of scoreless relief to earn his first save of the year.

The Falcons (7-14-1, 1-3 CC) chipped away at the early lead but couldn't take advantage of four LVC errors, despite pounding out 15 hits. Travis Thome went six innings and allowed five runs in the loss.

LVC manufactured four runs in the bottom of the first, all with two out. With runners on first and second, Derek Helwig singled to center to score Grant Wiest, and Zarilla scored when catcher Ben Kirk's attempt to catch Helwig stealing sailed into center.

From there, Bert Malloy knocked in Helwig and Brandon Stoothoff scored Dustin Deibert as LVC racked up six hits in the inning.

Messiah scored a run in the third on Kirk's groundout to plate Adam Ranck, and another run came across in the sixth when Dan Etter scored after Colt Zarilla's throwing error.

LVC tacked on the eventual winning win in the last of the sixth when Wiest singled to left to score Ryan Schwartz.

The Dutchman defense broke down in the seventh and it nearly cost them the lead. With a runner on second, Kirk reached on catcher's interference, Wes Hollenbach reached on a bunt that Specht couldn't get to, and Hart singled in a run. With Kirk on third, LVC appeared to catch Hart in a rundown, but Brent Ruminski's throw back to first eluded Joe Soupik, and Kirk scored on the error.

However, the Dutchmen got out of the inning without further damage as Etter struck out swinging and Malloy nailed Hart stealing at second on a double play.

The LVC defense held from there despite Messiah leaving three runners on over the final two innings, and Blough threw two solid innings to pick up the save.

LVC and Messiah will complete their three-game weekend series Saturday at Messiah starting at noon.