ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– Pete Botbyl, Jace Fetterman, and Nico Santoro each drove in a run for the Lebanon Valley College baseball team, as the program dropped a 9-3 game to No. 19 Misericordia University on Monday, April 8 at McGill Field. 

Kyle McCracken started on the mound for the Dutchmen and posted a scoreless top of the first inning against the Cougars. The sophomore retired the side in order with a fly out to left field, a ground out to third on a bunt, and a lineout to shortstop. Lebanon Valley then opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead. The club loaded the bases, as Santoro reached on a fielder's choice before Shane Stossel and Logan Brewer drew walks. Later in the frame with two outs, Fetterman walked with the bases full to plate Santoro. 

Misericordia responded with a run in the top of the second inning, tying the contest at 1-1 on an RBI fielder's choice. The Cougars followed this by scoring twice in the top of the third, taking a 3-1 advantage during a frame that included a sacrifice fly to center field. Chris Langsdorf entered the game in relief in the third and recorded the final out of the inning, before tossing a shutout fourth. The right-hander posted a 1-2-3 frame by striking out the first two batters looking and getting a groundout to second base. Langsdorf also posted a zero in the top of the fifth, picking up another strikeout in the process. 

The Cougars then plated three runs in the top of the sixth, making it a 6-1 game during an inning that included two RBI singles to right-center field. Lebanon Valley countered with a run in the bottom half of the sixth, narrowing the score to 6-2. The club had runners on first and second base after Brewer hit a grounder to second and reached on an error, and Ethan O'Loughlin singled through the left side. Pete Botbyl then came to the plate with one out and lined an RBI single into left-center field, knocking in Brewer. 

The Dutchmen crossed the plate again in the bottom of the seventh inning, advancing the score to 6-3. LVC quickly got a runner into scoring position, as Ryan Petrucci led off the frame with a double to right field. Santoro followed this by driving an RBI double off the top of the wall in left-center field, bringing home Petrucci. 

Misericordia tacked on three runs in the top of the eighth, going ahead 9-3 after two solo home runs and an RBI double. Lebanon Valley kept battling at the plate as the game went into the bottom of the ninth inning, as Shane Stossel singled up the middle and O'Loughlin worked a two-out walk. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Santoro tallied two hits, including a double. The graduate student also drove in a run and crossed the plate once. 
• Botbyl also had two hits, a walk, and an RBI. 
• Fetterman walked and tallied an RBI.
• Brewer walked twice and scored a run. 
• O'Loughlin picked up two hits with a walk.
• Petrucci hit a double, drew a walk, and scored a run. 
• Stossel singled and walked, extending his hitting streak to four games.
• Langsdorf struck out three batters in 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. 
• Bennage also fanned a batter in 1.1 shutout frames.
• Blair Shaffer and Owen Berry each struck out a batter in appearances out of the bullpen as well. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to the diamond at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12, as the program will travel to open its series against King's College at Lipo Field in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 

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