Lebanon Valley 7, Houghton 5
 
LVC Lineup
1. Towers (RF), 2. Wrabel (SS), 3. DeClerico (2B), 4. Marcelli (1B), 5. Holdredge (DH), 6. Herring (CF), 7. Leri (LF), 8. Rock (3B), 9. Willey (C), Eckert (SP)
 
Houghton Lineup
1. Wessells (CF), 2. Newswanger (SS), 3. Rode (3B), 4. Closson (C), 5. Philips (LF), 6. Couch (1B), 7. Nowak (DH), 8. Gross (2B), 9. Cook (RF), Melchiore (SP)
 
How It Happened
FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Lebanon Valley competed a five-run comeback en route to a narrow 7-5 victory over Houghton College on Wednesday in non-conference baseball action. The Flying Dutchmen stayed perfect and moved to 6-0 on the young season, while the Highlanders dropped to 1-5.
 
In the early going, LVC found itself it unfamiliar territory when Houghton (Caneadea, N.Y.) put up four early runs in the top of the second thanks to an RBI-single by Wayne Rode, followed by a bases-clearing double from the clean-up hitter Ben Closson. The Highlanders' starting pitcher Nick Melchiore stymied the Dutchmen's potent offense for the majority of his innings pitched, but in the bottom of the fourth with LVC down 5-0, its comeback bid began.
 
Michael Leri reached on an error to plate Josh Marcelli for the Dutchmen's first run, followed by Tanner Rock's fielder's choice that scored TJ Holdredge. Then, Melchiore balked home Josh Herring, and Bryan Towers then singled through the left side to score Rock and bring LVC to within one at 5-4. Chris DeClerico then singled to left center with two outs to even the game quickly at 5-5.
 
DeClerico came through again for the Dutchmen, this time in the sixth when he hit a hit to score Towers to put LVC ahead for the first time in the game at 6-5. Bryce Eberly, who was magnificent in relief today, struck out the side in the top of the seventh to hold the Dutchmen's narrow lead and he was awarded with some insurance in the bottom of the seventh thanks to Josh Willey's RBI-double to right center. Eberly then retired the Highlanders in order in both the eighth and ninth inning to preserve LVC's big come-from-behind victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
 - Marcelli reached a milestone in today's game and joined LVC's 100-hit club.
 - Towers finished the day going 4-for-5 at the plate with one RBI.
 - Joey Wrabel, DeClerico, and Marcelli ended with two hits apiece.
 - Eberly picked up the win after tossing the final 3.2 innings and allowing no runs or walks to go along with six strikeouts.
 - Daymond Zweizig tossed 2.1 innings of relief and struck out three.
 - Joey Bassett was also solid in his relief effort, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing just one hit and three K's.
 - LVC's pitching staff has recorded at least 10 strikeouts in each of its first six games this season, including 14 in today's contest.
 
Who's Next?
The Dutchmen take on Kenyon College tomorrow in a doubleheader, with game one slated for an 11 a.m. start time.
 
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