EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. ­­– Spencer Butz reached base four times and scored a run for the Lebanon Valley College baseball team in its season opener, as the program dropped a 10-4 contest at Wilkes University on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Bruggeworth Field. 

The Colonels (1-0) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, taking an early 2-0 lead on two RBI singles. The Dutchmen (0-1) answered back with a run in the top of the second, trimming their deficit to 2-1. Matthew Kendall led off the inning with a walk, and Dylan Mennillo was hit by a pitch with one out, before they executed a double steal to put runners on second and third base. Owen Berry then recorded an RBI groundout to second base, knocking in Kendall. Wilkes followed this with a two-run single in the bottom half of the second, taking a 4-1 advantage. 

Lebanon Valley continued to battle in the batter's box as the game went on, narrowing the score to 4-2 in the top of the third inning. Lucien Burger led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second base on a throwing error by the pitcher. The left fielder later stole third base and came home to score on a throwing error by the Colonels' catcher. Starting pitcher Aidan Bilder then delivered a 1-2-3 bottom of the third for LVC, logging a groundout to Berry at shortstop, a strikeout looking, and a lineout to Berry. 

The Colonels put another tally on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking a 5-2 lead after a run scored on a double play. The Flying Dutchmen also kept generating traffic on the basepaths as the contest progressed, as Butz and Burger singled while Kody Phillips and Tyler Satterfield each drew a walk in the top of the fifth. Landon Sexton entered the game to pitch for LVC in the bottom of the fifth and registered a shutout frame, striking out two batters in the process. 

Wilkes plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, going up 9-2 after an inning that included an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Lebanon Valley followed this with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, making it a 9-4 game. The club got runners on second and third base after Butz led off with a walk and Phillips hit a double down the left-field line. Devin Kreger then came up to the plate with two outs and hit a two-run double to left-center field, driving in Butz and Phillips. The Colonels countered with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh, advancing the score to 10-4. 

Hayden Fravel came out of the bullpen to pitch for the Dutchmen in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the southpaw struck out a batter in a scoreless frame. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Kreger tied game-highs with two RBIs and two stolen bases, which tied his career-high in RBIs and marked the first two stolen bases of his career. The junior also hit a double and drew a walk. 
• Butz recorded two hits, a run scored, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch.
• Burger tallied his first two career hits, his first career run scored, his first career walk, and his first career stolen base. 
• Phillips hit a double, scored a run, and walked once.
• Kendall logged his first career walk, stolen base, and run scored. 
• Berry drove in a run and walked once. 
• Kenny Palmieri logged a base hit. 
• Satterfield drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. 
• Mennillo was hit by a pitch and stole a base. 
• Bilder tied a career-high three strikeouts.
• Sexton matched a career-high three strikeouts. 
• Fravel struck out a batter without allowing a hit in a scoreless inning of relief.

Up Next 
The Dutchmen will return to action in a doubleheader against McDaniel College on Friday, Feb. 27, at The Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, Md. The first matchup of the twin bill is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. 

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