ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– Lucien Burger tied a game-high three RBIs for the Lebanon Valley College baseball team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 12-7 contest to York College of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, April 14, at McGill Field. 

The Spartans (14-17) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a leadoff solo home run. The Dutchmen (12-19) then got a couple of runners on base in the bottom of the first, as Owen Berry hit an infield single to shortstop and Burger drew a walk. York added five runs in the top of the second, taking a 6-0 advantage on a solo home run, an RBI single, an RBI sacrifice bunt, and a two-run home run. In the bottom of the second, Parker Tarnoci picked up a base hit for LVC with a leadoff single through the right side. 

Kyle McCracken then pitched a scoreless top of the third inning for Lebanon Valley, notching the third out with a strikeout swinging to leave runners on first and second base. The Dutchmen then got on the board in the bottom of the third, narrowing the score to 6-2. Jarred Baer led off with a hit-by-pitch before Dylan Mennillo singled down the right-field line to put runners on first and second. Daniel Palmieri later hit a one-out RBI double to right field, knocking in Baer. Burger followed this with a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Mennillo. 

The Spartans scored twice in the top of the fourth, going up 8-2 on a pair of RBI singles. Chris Langsdorf then posted a zero for the Flying Dutchmen while pitching the top of the fifth inning, getting out of the frame when Baer threw out a runner attempting to steal second base. Lebanon Valley kept battling at the plate in the bottom half of the fifth, putting two runs on the board to trim its deficit to 8-4. Mennillo got things started with a leadoff double down the left-field line, and the program later had runners on second and third after Berry singled to second base and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Burger then delivered a two-run single up the middle, bringing in Mennillo and Berry. In the top of the sixth, York hit an RBI single to take a 9-4 lead.

The Spartans tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh, advancing the score to 11-4 on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. The Dutchmen countered a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, making it an 11-6 contest. The club loaded the bases with no outs on a leadoff single to shortstop by Berry, a walk for Palmieri, and a single to center field by Burger. Kenny Palmieri then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Berry. The program had runners on the corners after a pitching change, and an error on a failed pickoff attempt by York's reliever moved Burger to second while scoring Daniel Palmieri.

Aidan Attivo entered the game to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the top of the eighth inning and delivered an excellent frame, striking out the side in order. The Dutchmen continued to compete in the batter's box in the bottom of the eighth, making it an 11-7 game. Jacob Williams led off with a double to right field and advanced to third base on a groundout. Berry then came through with a two-out RBI single through the right side, knocking in Williams. The Spartans later hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, taking a 12-7 lead. LVC proceeded to battle until the final out, as Colby Bealing drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and second base. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Burger registered a pair of base hits and tied a game-high three RBIs. The sophomore also drew a walk.  
• Berry recorded a game-high four hits, tying a career-high. The senior also drove in a run and scored two runs. 
• Mennillo logged two hits with a double and tied a career-high two runs scored. 
• Daniel Palmieri hit a double, drew a walk, knocked in a run, and scored a run. 
• Kenny Palmieri was hit by a pitch and drove in a run. 
• Williams picked up his first career double and scored a run. 
• Baer tallied his first career hit-by-pitch and crossed the plate once. The catcher also threw out a runner attempting to steal second base in the top of the fifth. 
• Tarnoci had a base hit and was hit by a pitch. 
• Bealing drew a walk. 
• Attivo recorded a game-high and season-high three strikeouts in a perfect inning of relief. 
• McCracken struck out a batter in 1.2 scoreless innings. 
• Grayson Weidenhammer registered a strikeout. 

Up Next 
The Dutchmen will return to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15, at 3:30 p.m., when the club will host Moravian University at McGill Field. 

Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.