WILKES-BARRE, Pa. ­­– Nico Santoro recorded three hits and three RBIs, leading the Lebanon Valley College baseball team to a 12-5 victory and sweep of the season series against King's College on Sunday, April 14 at Lipo Field. 

The Monarchs (9-17, 4-11 MAC Freedom) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single to center field. The Dutchmen (14-13, 8-7 MAC Freedom) answered back with a big four-run frame in the top of the second, taking a 4-1 advantage. The club got runners on second and third base with two outs, as Ethan O'Loughlin walked and Jace Fetterman singled before they each moved up a base on a balk. 

Luke Pollock followed this by hitting a ball to shortstop and reaching on a throwing error, allowing O'Loughlin to score and tie the game at 1-1. Owen Berry then hit a two-run double that dropped into right field, plating Fetterman and Pollock. The two-out rally was capped off by Pete Botbyl sending a bunt back to the pitcher and reaching on a throwing error, bringing home Berry. 

Lebanon Valley starting pitcher Kyle McCracken posted a scoreless frame in the bottom of the second, striking out two batters in the process. King's put a run on the board in the bottom of the third inning, narrowing its deficit to 4-2 after a runner crossed the plate on a double play. The Flying Dutchmen then added a tally in the top of the fourth inning, claiming a 5-2 lead. Santoro put the club by three with an RBI double to left field, driving in Pollock. 

The Dutchmen tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth inning, extending their advantage to 8-2. Fetterman got the frame started with a one-out double to left field, before Ryan Murphy brought him home by lining an RBI single to right field. Later in the inning, Botbyl hit an RBI single to center field to score Murphy. Santoro followed this with an RBI single to left field, knocking in Pollock. The Monarchs responded in the bottom of the fifth, making it an 8-4 contest with a two-run single. 

On the mound, Blair Shaffer registered a scoreless sixth inning in his third frame of work. The southpaw put up a zero after a frame that included a foul out to first base and a groundout to second. Lebanon Valley continued its productive afternoon in the batter's box in the top of the seventh inning, going ahead 9-4. Santoro picked up his third hit of the game with an RBI single, plating Pollock. King's countered with a run in the bottom of the seventh, trimming its deficit to 9-5 with an RBI single. 

The Flying Dutchmen added some insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, extending their advantage to 12-5. Berry led off with a double to left field and later advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Botbyl. Shane Stossel drove in Berry with a sacrifice fly to center field. Later in the frame, Santoro came home to score on a wild pitch. The inning was capped off by Brewer hustling to the plate from third base, as the Monarchs catcher threw down to second on an LVC steal attempt. Ryan Pickle entered the ballgame to pitch in the bottom of the ninth and closed out the win in a shutout inning that included a strikeout. 

Inside the Box Score

• Santoro tied a game-high and had a season-high three RBIs while tying a game-most and season-high three hits. The graduate student also had a double and extended his hitting streak to five games. Santoro walked once, scored a run, and stole his fifth base of the season as well. In the field at shortstop, he tied a career-high five putouts.
• Pollock had a hit, an RBI, and a career-high four runs scored. This is tied for the most runs scored by an LVC player this spring, matching O'Loughlin's four runs scored against Stevenson University on March 13.
• Berry tied a career-high three hits with a career-most two doubles. The sophomore also knocked in two runs and tied a career-high two runs scored. 
• Fetterman tied a season-high three hits while tying a career-high two doubles. The junior also walked once and scored twice. 
• Murphy recorded two hits, an RBI, a run scored, and his eighth stolen base of the year. 
• Botbyl registered a hit and tied a season-high two RBIs.
• Brewer hit a double and crossed the plate once. 
• Stossel walked and tallied an RBI.
• O'Loughlin drew two walks and scored a run. 
• Shaffer improved his record to 3-0, registering three strikeouts in a relief appearance.
• McCracken struck out three batters in his start on the mound.
• Michael Williams tossed a shutout eighth. 
• Pickle fanned a batter in a scoreless ninth inning. 
• Defensively, the Dutchmen turned a season-high four double plays.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to action at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, as the program will travel to take on Messiah University at Starry Baseball Field in Grantham, Pennsylvania. 

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