FORT PIERCE, Fla. ­­– Kody Phillips drove in three runs for the Lebanon Valley College baseball team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 7-6 contest to Wilkes University on Wednesday, March 4 at the Lawnwood Baseball Complex. LVC then dropped a 6-0 decision to Kenyon College in the club's second matchup of the day. 

Game One vs. Wilkes
The Colonels (3-3) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single. Starting pitcher Connor Smith then delivered a shutout top of the second for the Dutchmen (2-3), recording the first and third outs with strikeouts. A batter for Wilkes also reached base on a hit-by-pitch during the frame, but LVC catcher Joey Santora threw out the runner attempting to steal second base for the second out. Lebanon Valley battled at the plate as well, as Devin Kreger hit a two-out single to left field in the bottom of the second. 

Smith tossed a 1-2-3 top of the third inning for the Flying Dutchmen, registering a groundout to second baseman Dylan Mennillo, an unassisted groundout to first baseman Tyler Satterfield, and a strikeout looking. Smith also retired the side in order in the top of the fourth inning, logging a strikeout swinging, a groundout to shortstop Owen Berry, and a flyout to right fielder Kenny Palmieri. LVC's lineup kept working to create traffic on the basepaths in the bottom of the fourth, as Phillips hit a one-out single to right field.

Landon Sexton entered the game to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the top of the fifth inning, and he tallied the final two outs of a scoreless frame. The sophomore notched the third out with a strikeout looking, stranding the bases loaded. The Dutchmen then got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fifth, taking a 2-1 advantage. The club started the rally by loading the bases with singles to left field by Kreger, Santora, and Mennillo. This was followed by Kreger crossing the plate on a wild pitch to even the score. Later in the frame, Spencer Butz drew a two-out walk to reload the bases. Phillips was LVC's next batter, and the sophomore was hit by a pitch with the bases full, which plated Santora and gave the program the lead. 

Sexton blanked the opposition again in the top of the sixth inning, retiring the side in order with a strikeout looking, a flyout to Butz in center field, and a flyout to Palmieri in right field. In the bottom of the sixth, Kreger continued his productive day in the batter's box with a one-out double to center field for Lebanon Valley. The Colonels then scored twice in the top of the seventh inning, taking a 3-2 lead on two RBI doubles. The Dutchmen answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, going up 4-3. The rally started single to left field by Mennillo and a hit-by-pitch by Berry, before the runners later advanced to second and third base. Phillips then came through with a two-run single to right field, knocking in Mennillo and Berry. 

Parker Tarnoci pitched a scoreless top of the eighth inning for Lebanon Valley, striking out the final two batters of the frame to leave a runner at third base. The Flying Dutchmen then added two runs in the bottom of the eighth, extending their lead to 6-3. Palmieri led off the frame with a single to center field, and Kreger hit a single to left field. Palmieri and pinch runner Jacob Williams later executed a double steal, and a throwing error on the play by the Colonels' catcher allowed both runners to score. Wilkes followed this with four runs in the top of the ninth, taking a 7-6 lead on an RBI single, a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, a walk with the bases full, and a wild pitch. Ultimately, this would stand as the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Phillips recorded a season-high two hits while tying a career-high three RBIs, which also set a game-high. The sophomore was hit by a pitch as well. 
• Kreger went 4-for-4, registering a game-high and career-high in hits. The junior also tied a game-high and career-high two runs scored. 
• Mennillo matched a career-high two hits and scored a run. 
• Palmieri logged a base hit, a stolen base, and a run scored. 
• Santora had a base hit and crossed the plate once. The catcher also threw out a runner attempting to steal second base in the top of the second.
• Berry was hit by a pitch and scored a run. 
• Williams recorded his first career stolen base.
• Butz drew a walk. 
• Lebanon Valley outhit Wilkes 10-8. 
• Smith tallied a season-high five strikeouts. 
• Sexton struck out a career-high four batters. 
• Tarnoci tied a season-high two strikeouts. 
• Hayden Fravel fanned a season-high two batters. 
• Jordy Polanco tallied a strikeout. 

Game Two vs. Kenyon
Lebanon Valley (2-4) created some traffic on the bases in the top of the first inning, as Berry led off the game with a single down the left-field line and Daniel Palmieri reached base on a bunt single. Kenyon (6-2) then got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 4-0 lead on an RBI single, a walk with the bases loaded, and a two-run single. The Dutchmen also worked to generate scoring opportunities in the top of the second, as Williams walked and stole second base, before advancing to third base. 

Starting pitcher Trey Dianna followed this by posting a zero for LVC in the bottom of the second, registering a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play, and a strikeout swinging. In the top of the third inning, the Flying Dutchmen got a runner on base with a one-out single to left field by Will Plappert. Dianna then pitched a scoreless bottom of the third, notching the third out with a strikeout to strand a runner at first base. LVC had more traffic on the basepaths in the top of the fourth inning, as Matthew Kendall singled to center field and stole second base while Tarnoci walked. The runners later moved up to second and third on a wild pitch.

Kenyon added a tally in the bottom of the fourth inning, going up 5-0 on an RBI double to center field. Connor Simms then pitched 1-2-3 innings for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the fifth and the bottom of the sixth, and the first-year tallied a strikeout during his second inning on the mound. The Owls later tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh, making a 6-0 contest on an RBI single.

Aidan Attivo entered the game to pitch for the Dutchmen in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the first-year blanked the opposition. The program recorded the third out of the frame with a flyout to Kendall in left field, leaving a runner at second base. Lebanon Valley's lineup also continued to battle until the final out, as Phillips hit a single to center field and Kreger singled to right field in the top of the ninth inning. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Daniel Palmieri tallied a hit and a stolen base. 
• Kendall also had a base hit and a stolen base.
• Plappert recorded his first career hit. 
• Phillips logged a base hit, extending his hitting streak to six games to begin the season.
• Berry and Kreger each picked up a hit as well. 
• Williams walked while stealing a base. 
• Tarnoci drew a walk.  
• Dianna tied a game-high five strikeouts, which marked the junior's most strikeouts so far this year.
• Simms registered his first career strikeout. 
• Attivo pitched a scoreless inning. 

Up Next 
The Dutchmen will return to action on Friday, March 6, at 1 p.m., against Capital University in Vero Beach, Fla. Later in the day, Lebanon Valley will take on Albright College at 4 p.m. in Vero Beach.  

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