FORT PIERCE, Fla. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College baseball team closed out its spring break trip by putting on an offensive clinic, recording 21 hits, seven walks, and four stolen bases in a dominant 20-0 victory over Thiel College in seven innings on Saturday, March 7, at Bob Gladwin Stadium. 

Spencer Butz was a key contributor to the win for the Flying Dutchmen (3-6), as the center fielder drove in five runs, scored four times, and picked up three base hits. Lucien Burger also had a big day at the plate, tallying four RBIs, two hits, and a run scored. Additionally, Owen Berry went 4-for-4 while knocking in three runs and crossing the plate three times. Lebanon Valley's pitchers were stellar as well, combining for nine strikeouts to shut out Thiel in seven innings. Starting pitcher Landon Sexton struck out a game-high seven batters for LVC. 

Sexton delivered a scoreless top of the first inning for the Dutchmen, recording two strikeouts in the process. Lebanon Valley then struck first in the bottom of the first, taking an early 2-0 lead over the Tomcats (0-4). Berry led off the frame with a single up the middle before Butz drew a walk, putting runners on first and second base. Burger followed this by driving a two-run double to center field, knocking in Berry and Butz. 

Sexton posted another zero for the Flying Dutchmen in the top of the second, retiring the side in order with a strikeout looking, a groundout to Berry at shortstop, and a strikeout swinging. LVC then added three runs in the bottom of the second, taking a 5-0 advantage. Parker Tarnoci reached base by drawing a one-out walk, and the first baseman later scored on Berry's two-out RBI double to left-center field. Butz then lined an RBI double to left field, driving in Berry. Burger followed this with an RBI double to right-center field, plating Butz.

Sexton also blanked the opposition in the top of the third inning, notching the last two outs with a flyout to left fielder Kody Phillips and a groundout to Berry at shortstop to strand the bases loaded. The Dutchmen then continued their strong offensive performance in the bottom of the third, extending their lead to 9-0. Berry stepped into the batter's box with runners on the corners with one out, and the shortstop came through with an RBI single through the left side to score Matthew Kendall. This put Berry on first base and Joey Santora on second base, and the runners executed a double steal to advance to second and third. Butz followed this by driving a two-run triple to left-center field, knocking in Santora and Berry. Burger also delivered a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Butz to cross the plate.

Sexton continued his productive start for Lebanon Valley in the top of the fourth inning, keeping Thiel off the board by striking out the last two batters to leave the bases loaded.  The Dutchmen then put another tally on the board in the bottom of the fourth, going up 10-0. Berry hit an RBI single through the left side, bringing home Tarnoci. Connor Simms entered the game to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the top of the fifth inning and tossed a scoreless frame. The first-year notched the third out with a lineout to third baseman Daniel Palmieri, stranding runners on first and second base. In the bottom half of the fifth, the Flying Dutchmen crossed the dish again to make it an 11-0 game. Kendall added to the team's lead with an RBI single through the left side, knocking in Burger.

Simms blanked Thiel again in the top of the sixth inning, striking out the final two batters to leave a runner at first base. Lebanon Valley then posted a big nine-run frame in the bottom of the sixth, extending its lead to 20-0. Adam Jirik got things started with a one-out RBI single to center field, scoring John Teehan. Palmieri then hit a two-run single to center, bringing in Butz and Jirik. Tarnoci and Santora also hit back-to-back RBI singles through the left side, which plated Palmieri and Will Plappert, respectively. Teehan followed this with an RBI single up the middle, driving in Kendall. Butz continued the rally by hitting a two-run single to left-center field, knocking in Tarnoci and Santora. The offensive outburst was capped off by Jirik reaching on an error by the second baseman, which brought home Teehan. Aidan Attivo came out of the bullpen to pitch for the Dutchmen in the top of the seventh inning and closed out the victory by logging a zero. The club recorded the final out with a fielder's choice, in which Teehan flipped the ball from shortstop to Plappert at second base for the force out.

Inside the Box Score

• The Dutchmen set season-highs with 20 runs scored, 21 hits, 19 RBIs, and five doubles. The club scored in each inning it came up to the plate. 
• Butz logged a season-high three hits, a game-high and career-high five RBIs, a game-high four runs scored, and a walk. The senior also matched his career-high in runs scored. 
• Berry recorded a career-high and game-high four hits, tied a career-high three RBIs, and matched a season-high three runs scored. The senior stole a base as well. 
• Burger tied a season-high two hits with a season-high and game-high two doubles, while registering the first four RBIs of his career, a run scored, and a walk. 
• Tarnoci had a base hit, a walk, an RBI, and a career-high three runs scored. 
• Palmieri tied a season-high two RBIs while tallying a run scored, a hit, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. 
• Santora matched career-highs with two hits and two runs scored, while driving in a run. The junior also stole a base for the first time in his career. 
• Kendall logged a season-high two hits, his first career RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. The first-year also tied a season-high two runs scored. 
• Teehan recorded the first two hits, the first two runs scored, and the first stolen base of his career. The first-year also drove in a run. 
• Jirik picked up a base hit, an RBI, and a run scored. 
• Plappert recorded a season-high two hits, a run scored, and the first walk of his career. 
• Phillips reached base with a double and a hit-by-pitch. The sophomore has tallied a base hit in each of his nine games so far this year. 
• Lebanon Valley outhit Thiel 21-5. 
• Sexton struck out a game-high and career-high seven batters in four scoreless innings, earning his first career win. 
• Simms tallied a season-high two strikeouts in a pair of shutout innings. 
• Attivo blanked the opposition in the top of the seventh inning.

Up Next 
The Dutchmen will be back in action on Tuesday, March 10, at 3 p.m., when the program will host Elizabethtown College for its home opener at McGill Field. 

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