VERO BEACH, Fla. ­­– Spencer Butz recorded four hits and two runs scored for the Lebanon Valley College baseball team on Friday, March 6, as the program battled tough while dropping a 9-2 decision to Capital University and a 5-1 contest to Albright College at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. 

Game One vs. Capital
Starting pitcher Owen Berry pitched a scoreless top of the first inning for the Dutchmen, notching the third out with a lineout to left fielder Matthew Kendall to leave a runner at second base. The Comets then opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead. Lebanon Valley got a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the second, as Devin Kreger led off with a single to center field and advanced to second base on a groundout. 

Berry posted another zero for LVC in the top of the third inning, retiring the side in order with a strikeout swinging, a lineout to right fielder Kenny Palmieri, and a groundout to shortstop John Teehan. Berry also blanked Capital in the top of the fourth, and the senior ended the frame with a double play. The Dutchmen then got on board in the bottom of the fourth inning, tying the game at 1-1. The rally began with a leadoff single through the left side by Butz and a Kody Phillips hit-by-pitch, before Butz stole third base to put runners on the corners. This was followed by Daniel Palmieri delivering an RBI sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher, scoring Butz.

Berry tossed a shutout top of the fifth inning for Lebanon Valley as well, registering the third out by picking off a runner at second base. The Dutchmen then generated some traffic on the basepaths in the bottom of the fifth, as Dylan Mennillo and Teehan each drew a walk while Santora reached on a fielder's choice on a bunt. The Comets followed this with a two-run home run and a two-run triple in the top of the sixth, taking a 5-1 advantage. Phillips later reached base for LVC again in the bottom of the sixth, hitting a one-out single to left-center field.

Grayson Weidenhammer entered the contest to pitch for the Flying Dutchmen in the top of the seventh inning and posted a scoreless frame. The sophomore tallied the third out with a flyout to Kendall in left field, leaving a runner at first base. Lebanon Valley also kept working to get runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, as Kenny Palmieri hit a leadoff single to center field. Capital then added four runs in the top of the eighth inning, advancing the score to 9-1 on two walks with the bases loaded, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly. 

The Dutchmen responded with a run in the bottom of the eighth, making it a 9-2 game. The club put runners on second and third base, as Kendall drew a leadoff walk and Butz hit a double to left-center field. Daniel Palmieri then logged an RBI fielder's choice, knocking in Kendall. Chris Langsdorf came out of the bullpen to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the top of the ninth inning, and the senior recorded the third out of a shutout frame with a fielder's choice. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Daniel Palmieri tied a season-high two RBIs. 
• Butz tied a season-high two hits with a double. The senior also walked, stole a base, and scored a run. 
• Kendall drew a walk and scored a run. 
• Phillips picked up a base hit, extending his hitting streak to seven games to start the year. The sophomore also reached base via a hit-by-pitch. 
• Kreger logged a hit while tying a game-high and career-high seven putouts at first base. 
• Kenny Palmieri had a base hit. 
• Mennillo and Teehan each drew a walk. 
• Santora reached base on a hit-by-pitch.
• Ryan Thear and Jackson Sullivan each tallied their first career strikeout. 
• Berry and Weidenhammer each struck out a batter as well. 
• Langsdorf pitched a scoreless inning of relief. 

Game Two vs. Albright
Lebanon Valley generated some traffic on the bases in the top of the first inning, as Butz hit a one-out single while Lucien Burger and Phillips each reached on a fielder's choice. Albright then opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 lead on a solo home run. The Dutchmen also got a runner on base in the top of the second, as Kendall drew a two-out walk. In the bottom of the second, the Lions went up 2-0 on an RBI single.

LVC got on the board in the top of the third inning, narrowing the score to 2-1. The club started a two-out rally with a single by Butz, before a double by Burger put runners on second and third base. Phillips then came through with an RBI single, driving in Butz. Albright countered with an RBI single in the bottom half of the third, taking a 3-1 advantage. Parker Raham later tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning for the Flying Dutchmen, registering a groundout to Mennillo at second base, a flyout to Butz in center field, and a groundout to third baseman Daniel Palmieri. 

The Lions added a run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning, going up 4-1. Lebanon Valley also continued to battle at the plate as the contest progressed, as Burger led off the top of the sixth with a single before advancing to second base on a passed ball. Daniel Palmieri also reached first base on a hit-by-pitch during the frame. Parker Tarnoci then pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning for the Dutchmen, notching the third out with a strikeout swinging to strand a runner at third base. 

The Flying Dutchmen kept working to create scoring chances in the top of the seventh inning, as Mennillo and Berry each hit a single. In the bottom of the seventh, Tarnoci retired the side in order with a strikeout swinging and two groundouts to Berry at shortstop. Albright later tacked on a run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single, making it a 5-1 game. This would stand as the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Phillips tallied a base hit, extending his hitting streak to eight games to begin the campaign. The sophomore also drove in a run. 
• Butz matched a season-high two hits and crossed the plate once. 
• Burger tied a season-high two hits, including his first career double. 
• Berry and Mennillo each picked up a base hit. 
• Kendall drew a walk. 
• Daniel Palmieri reached base via a hit-by-pitch. 
• Starting pitcher Kyle McCracken tied a season-high two strikeouts. 
• Raham struck out a batter in two innings of relief. 
• Tarnoci matched a season-high two strikeouts without allowing an earned run in 3.2 innings of relief. 

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will close out its spring break trip with a matchup against Thiel College on Saturday, March 7, at 10 a.m., in Fort Pierce, Fla. 

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