ST. DAVIDS, Pa. ­­– Owen Berry broke the Lebanon Valley College baseball team's career record for stolen bases with his 43rd steal, as the program dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision to Eastern University on a walk-off in the 10th inning on Tuesday, April 21, at The Yard. Lucien Burger also had a productive day at the plate for LVC, tallying four hits with a home run and two RBIs. 

The Dutchmen (15-21) generated some traffic on the bases in the top of the first inning, as Burger hit a double to right field and Spencer Butz drew a walk with two outs. The runners then advanced to second and third base on a wild pitch. Nate Savage followed this by pitching a 1-2-3 bottom of the first for Lebanon Valley, logging a strikeout swinging, a flyout to Burger in left field, and a groundout to third baseman John Teehan. 

The Flying Dutchmen opened the scoring in the top of the second, taking an early 1-0 lead over the Eagles (23-13). Kenny Palmieri led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to third base on a throwing error by Eastern's pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt. Teehan then came through with an RBI single to center field, driving in Palmieri. Savage posted another strong frame for LVC in the bottom of the second, retiring the side in order with a popout to Butz in center field, a lineout to Berry at shortstop, and a groundout to Berry. 

Lebanon Valley kept working to create scoring opportunities in the top of the third inning, as Berry led off with a hit-by-pitch and Burger walked. Berry then stole third base to break LVC's career program record, and Burger later stole second. This was followed by Savage blanking Eastern in the bottom of the third, registering the final out with a groundout to Berry at shortstop to leave a runner at second. In the bottom of the fourth, Savage tossed another 1-2-3 inning with two flyouts to Burger in left field and a strikeout looking.

Eastern got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking a 2-1 lead on a two-run single up the middle. Lebanon Valley answered right back in the top of the sixth, tying the game at 2-2 when Burger launched a solo home run down the right-field line. The Eagles then went up 3-2 in the bottom half of the sixth on an error. Parker Raham came out of the bullpen to pitch for the Dutchmen in the bottom of the seventh inning and delivered a scoreless frame. LVC recorded the first out when catcher Joey Santora threw out a runner attempting to steal second base, and the last two outs were tallied with groundouts to second baseman Dylan Mennillo.

The Flying Dutchmen crossed the plate again in the top of the eighth, tying the contest at 3-3. Berry led off with a double to left-center field and advanced to third base on a groundout. Burger then lined an RBI single through the right side, driving in Berry. Cole Kingsbury entered the contest to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on first with no outs, and the club got out of the inning unscathed.  The third out of the frame was tallied with a groundout to Berry at shortstop to strand a runner at second.

LVC continued to compete in the batter's box in the top of the ninth inning, as Santora drew a two-out walk. In the bottom of the ninth, Kingsbury retired the side in order with a groundout to Berry at shortstop, a strikeout looking, and a groundout to Daniel Palmieri at third base. The first-year's second scoreless inning of the day sent the game into extra innings. 

Lebanon Valley battled at the plate in the top of the 10th inning, as Kody Phillips and Burger each hit singles before Devin Kreger drew a one-out walk to load the bases. In the bottom of the 10th, Eastern hit a walk-off RBI single to win the game 4-3. 

Inside the Box Score

• Berry broke LVC's career program record for stolen bases with his 43rd career steal. This record was previously held by Derek Brousseau, who recorded 42 stolen bases for the Dutchmen. Berry also tallied a double, a hit-by-pitch, and a run scored. 
• Burger logged a game-high and season-high four hits, including his second home run of the season. The sophomore also tied a game-high two RBIs, drew a walk, and stole a game-high and season-high two bases. 
• Teehan matched a season-high two base hits and drove in a run. 
• Kenny Palmieri registered two hits with a double and scored a run. 
• Phillips picked up a base hit.
• Butz, Kreger, and Santora each drew a walk.
• Lebanon Valley outhit Eastern 10-4. 
• Savage tied a game-high and set a season-high with four strikeouts. 
• Parker Tarnoci struck out a batter without allowing an earned run in 1.1 innings of relief.
• Kingsbury also tallied a strikeout in 2.2 innings on the mound.
• Raham pitched a hitless frame.

Up Next 
The Dutchmen will return to the diamond on Friday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m., when the program will travel to take on DeSales University for the series opener at Weiland Park in Center Valley, Pa.  

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