Baseball
Lebanon Valley 8, Ursinus 7 – 11 innings

Box Score

FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Lebanon Valley College baseball opened the 2011 season with a dramatic 8-7 victory over Ursinus in 11 innings on Sunday afternoon.

Jake Rhody went 3-for-5 in the game with a double and two runs scored, while Colt Zarilla notched the game-tying RBI in the bottom of the ninth inning along with tallying his 100th career hit.

Pitching five and two-thirds innings in relief, Nate Blough recorded the win after relieving starter Caleb Fick.

Lebanon Valley jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after three innings. Ursinus broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth inning, scoring four runs. Coming in with two runners in scoring position, Blough prevented the tying run from crossing home plate.

The Bears notched two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead, and the Dutchmen were held without a run until Zarilla came through with a double in the ninth to tie the score at six. Ursinus didn't wait long and tallied a run in the 10th inning for a 7-6 lead.

Again tying the game, Tom Rasich came through with a clutch pinch hit sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the inning.

In the 11th inning, Dustin Deibert started things off by drawing a walk and stealing second. He scored the winning run off an error with Jordan Witmer at bat.

Lebanon Valley returns to action Monday with a doubleheader against Martin Luther beginning at 4 p.m.