ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– Justin Ranker, Pete Botbyl, and Shane Stossel each recorded two hits for the Lebanon Valley College baseball team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 8-6 game to Elizabethtown College on Thursday, March 14 at McGill Field. 

This game was a pitchers' duel early, as the starters for both the Dutchmen and the Blue Jays kept the contest scoreless through the first two innings. Andrew Spaan started on the mound for LVC and blanked the opposition in the opening frame with a fly out to center field, a strikeout, and a groundout to third base. The right-hander also posted a zero in the second with three groundouts. 

Elizabethtown opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third inning, but Lebanon Valley responded with a big frame to take a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the third. The club started the rally by loading the bases with walks by Joey Santora and Botbyl, and a single to center field by Ryan Murphy. LVC then tied the game after Logan Brewer was hit by a pitch to plate Santora, before going ahead by one when Stossel walked to force home Botbyl. 

Later in the inning, Owen Berry lined a two-run double down the right-field line, driving in Brewer and Murphy. This was followed by Ranker's RBI single into left field, bringing home Stossel. Ranker was then leading off first when Elizabethtown's pickoff attempt got away from the first baseman, allowing Berry to score from third. 

Spaan maintained the club's lead in the top of the fourth, tossing a scoreless frame by fielding a groundout back to the mound, striking out a batter, and logging a flyout to right. The Blue Jays responded with three runs in the top of the fifth inning, narrowing their deficit to 6-4 after an RBI groundout to third base and an error. Elizabethtown added another in the top of the sixth on an RBI double, before going ahead 7-6 in the top of the seventh on a two-run double. 

The Flying Dutchmen continued to battle at the plate as the game went into the bottom of the sixth, as Stossel singled through the left side and Ryan Petrucci drove a double down the left field line with two outs. The Blue Jays then tacked on a tally in the top of the eighth inning, making it an 8-6 contest on an RBI fielder's choice. Trey Dianna entered the game to pitch for the Dutchmen in the top of the ninth and retired the side in order. The first-year posted a strikeout looking, a groundout back to the mound, and a grounder to shortstop. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley's lineup scored six runs on nine hits, five walks, and a hit-by-pitch. 
• Berry recorded his first career double while tying a game-high two RBIs, and scoring a run. 
• Stossel posted a 2-for-4 effort while driving in a run and scoring once.
• Botbyl went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base. 
• Ranker recorded a 2-for-5 afternoon, knocking in a run in the process. 
• Brewer tallied an RBI and a run scored.
• Petrucci hit a double in the sixth inning. 
• Santora scored his first career run while also logging his first two walks. 
• Spaan recorded two strikeouts in his start on the mound. 
• Malachi Duka fanned a batter in an inning of relief. 
• Hunter Williams tallied two strikeouts during a two-inning appearance out of the bullpen. 
• Dianna struck out a batter in a scoreless ninth inning. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at noon on Saturday, March 16, as the program will host Stevens Institute of Technology at McGill Field and look to sweep the season series. 

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