GRANTHAM, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College baseball team received contributions from several members of its lineup, as seven players recorded RBIs during the club's 17-14 victory over Messiah University on Tuesday, April 16 at Starry Baseball Field. Jace Fetterman, Owen Berry, and Justin Ranker led the way by knocking in three runs each.

The Dutchmen (15-13, 8-7 MAC Freedom) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead over the Falcons (24-8, 13-2 MAC Commonwealth). Logan Brewer got the club on the board by launching a solo home run over the right-field wall with two outs, leaving the yard for the fifth time in the last four games. Hunter Williams started on the mound for LVC and began his outing with a scoreless bottom of the first, recording a strikeout in the process. 

Lebanon Valley crossed the plate again in the top of the second, extending its advantage to 2-0. The club had runners on first and second base with two outs after Luke Pollock reached on a fielder's choice and Berry hit a single through the left side. Ranker then lined an RBI single into left-center field, driving in Pollock. Messiah responded in the bottom half of the second inning, taking a 4-2 lead after a sacrifice fly to left field, an RBI single through the left side, and a two-run double to left field. 

The Falcons added another run in the bottom of the third, advancing the score to 5-2 on a solo home run to center field. The Flying Dutchmen countered with a run in the top of the fourth inning, narrowing the score to 5-3. Pollock reached base on a walk and later came home to score, as Ranker sent a sacrifice fly out to center field. Trey Dianna entered the game to pitch for LVC in the bottom of the fourth and began his appearance with a 1-2-3 frame, recording a strikeout for the third out. 

The Dutchmen then rallied for six runs in the top of the fifth, going ahead by four runs. Nico Santoro led off the frame with a walk, Brewer doubled to left-center field, and Ryan Murphy walked to load the bases with no outs. Fetterman made it a one-run game with an RBI single through the right side, driving in Santoro. This was later followed by Berry hitting a grounder to third base and reaching on a fielder's choice, allowing Brewer to cross the plate and tie the contest at 5-5. 

Lebanon Valley then quickly went ahead 7-5, as Murphy and Berry both came home to score on wild pitches. The inning was capped off by Pete Botbyl sending a ball to right field and reaching second on an error, plating Kenny Palmieri and Ranker to put LVC up 9-5. Messiah answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, trimming its deficit to 9-8 with a two-run single to right field and a sacrifice fly to center. 

The Flying Dutchmen put up five more runs in the top of the sixth inning, taking a 14-8 advantage. Brewer got the frame started with a double to left field before Fetterman launched a two-run blast over the right-center field fence. This was also the junior's 100^th career hit. Later in the inning, Ranker hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Pollock. This was followed by Botbyl hitting an RBI single to right-center field, knocking in Berry. Santoro then sent an RBI single through the right side, scoring Palmieri.

Jacob Detwiler entered the contest to pitch for LVC in the bottom of the sixth, delivering a scoreless frame by retiring the side in order with three groundouts. The Falcons then registered three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, making it a 14-11 game after a two-run home run to right-center and an RBI groundout to third base. Messiah tacked on another in the bottom of the eighth, narrowing the score to 14-12 on an RBI single to shortstop. 

Lebanon Valley tacked on some insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, going ahead 17-12. Brewer and Pollock both reached via walks before being driven home by Berry's two-run double into left-center field. Berry proceeded to steal third base, leading to Kameron Wetzel plating him with an RBI single back toward the mound. The Falcons responded with a two-run home run to right-center field in the bottom of the ninth, making it a 17-14 contest. Berry pitched the ninth for the Dutchmen and ultimately closed out the win with a fly out to right field.

Inside the Box Score

• Fetterman's two-run homer in the sixth marked the junior's 100^th career hit. The catcher's fourth blast of the spring was one of his two hits in the contest. Fetterman also tallied three RBIs.
• Brewer hit his sixth homer of the season while recording career-highs with four runs scored and two doubles. The junior's four runs are tied for the most by an LVC player this year. Brewer also tied a season-high three hits. 
• Berry had a career-high three runs scored and tied career-highs with three hits and three RBIs. The junior hit a double and stole two bases during the win as well. Berry also picked up his first career save on the mound, striking out a batter in 1.1 innings of work. 
• Ranker recorded a hit, a walk, three RBIs, and a run scored. The junior also hit two sacrifice flies, marking the most by a member of the Dutchmen this season. 
• Pollock walked twice and tied a career-high four runs scored, marking the second straight game he has crossed the plate four times. This total is tied for the most by a Lebanon Valley player this spring. 
• Botbyl tallied a hit and drove in a run. 
• Santoro had a base hit, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored.
• Palmieri logged a hit and career-highs with two walks and two runs scored. 
• Wetzel recorded a hit, an RBI, and his first career stolen base. 
• Murphy walked and scored a run. 
• Dianna improved his record to 2-0, registering three strikeouts in two innings of relief. 
• Williams, Tony Bennage, and Malachi Duka each struck out two batters. 
• Detwiler tossed a scoreless bottom of the sixth. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to the diamond at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, as the program will travel to take on No. 23 Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, Pennsylvania. 

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