GRANTHAM, Pa. ­­– Devin Kreger extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single to left field in the top of the seventh inning, as the Lebanon Valley College baseball team dropped a 10-0 decision to Messiah University in seven innings on Tuesday, March 31, at Houck Field. 

The Dutchmen got a runner into scoring position in the top of the first inning, as Lucien Burger drew a one-out walk and stole second base. Starting pitcher Connor Smith then blanked the Falcons in the bottom of the first, getting out of the frame with a double play. In the bottom half of the second, Messiah hit a sacrifice fly to take an early 1-0 lead. 

The Flying Dutchmen limited the opposition in the bottom of the third inning, and the club recorded the first out of the frame with an excellent diving catch by right fielder Kenny Palmieri. Parker Tarnoci then came in to pitch for LVC when there was a runner on first base with two outs, and the junior notched the final out with a popout to second baseman Dylan Mennillo to strand the runner. The Falcons later added four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, going up 5-0 on a two-run single, a wild pitch, and an RBI groundout. 

Aidan Attivo pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth for Lebanon Valley, registering a flyout to center fielder Spencer Butz, a foul out to first baseman Tyler Satterfield, and a lineout to Palmieri in right field. Messiah then scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, making it a 7-0 contest on a bases-loaded walk and an RBI fielder's choice.

The Dutchmen generated some traffic on the bases in the top of the seventh inning, as Kreger recorded a two-out single to left field to break up the no-hitter. Butz then lined a double down the left-field line, which put runners on second and third base. The Falcons later scored three runs on an RBI triple, an RBI double, and an error in the bottom of the seventh, winning the game 10-0 due to the run rule. 

Inside the Box Score

• Kreger picked up a single in the top of the seventh inning, extending his hitting streak to seven games. 
• Butz hit a double, marking his fourth consecutive game with a base hit. 
• Burger recorded a game-high two walks, tying a season-high. The sophomore also stole a base.
• Smith struck out a batter.
• Owen Berry tied a game-high two assists at shortstop. 

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will return to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1, at 5 p.m., when the club will travel to take on the University of Scranton at Volpe Field in Scranton, Pa. 

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