ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– Kody Phillips reached base three times, and Devin Kreger tied a game-high two hits for the Lebanon Valley College baseball team, as the program dropped a 6-0 decision to Stevens Institute of Technology on Friday, April 3, at McGill Field. 

Starting pitcher MJ Vottero began the game with a scoreless top of the first inning for the Dutchmen (9-14, 6-4 MAC Freedom), recording the first two outs with strikeouts looking before catcher Joey Santora threw out a runner attempting to steal second base. Vottero blanked the Ducks (13-11, 4-6 MAC Freedom) again in the top of the second inning, picking up two more strikeouts in the process. Stevens then opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an error. 

Lebanon Valley got a runner on base in the bottom half of the third, as Santora drew a one-out walk. The Ducks then added four runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking a 5-0 advantage on an RBI single and a three-run home run. The Dutchmen generated some traffic on the bases in the bottom of the fourth, as Phillips walked and Kreger hit a single through the right side with two outs. 

Connor Simms pitched a 1-2-3 inning for the Flying Dutchmen in the top of the fifth, registering a groundout that he fielded himself, a groundout to third baseman Daniel Palmieri near shortstop, and a groundout to second baseman Dylan Mennillo. In the bottom of the fifth, LVC got a runner on base with two outs when Santora reached on a hit-by-pitch. Stevens then tacked on a run in the top of the sixth inning, taking a 6-0 lead on an RBI single. Lebanon Valley also continued to compete at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, as Phillips hit a two-out single through the left side. 

Simms posted another zero for the Dutchmen in the top of the seventh inning, retiring the side in order with a groundout to Mennillo at second base, a flyout to center fielder Spencer Butz in right-center, and a strikeout looking. In the bottom of the seventh, Lebanon Valley got a runner on base when Kenny Palmieri drew a two-out walk. Parker Raham entered the contest to pitch for the Flying Dutchmen in the top of the eighth inning when the Ducks had runners on second and third base with two outs, and the junior got out of the frame with a groundout to shortstop Owen Berry. 

Cole Kingsbury came out of the bullpen to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the top of the ninth and delivered a scoreless inning, tallying a strikeout during the frame. The program also notched the third out when Santora threw out a runner attempting to steal third base. The Dutchmen kept battling until the final out, as Phillips was hit by a pitch and Kreger hit a single to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Kreger tied a game-high two hits, extending his hitting streak to eight games. 
• Phillips reached base three times with a hit, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. 
• Santora walked once and was hit by a pitch. The catcher also threw out two runners attempting to steal bases. 
• Kenny Palmieri drew a walk. 
• Vottero matched a game-high five strikeouts. 
• Simms struck out a season-high four batters.
• Kingsbury recorded his first career strikeout in a scoreless inning of relief. 

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 4, when the program will travel to take on Stevens in a doubleheader at Dobbelaar Baseball Field at the DeBaun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. The first matchup is scheduled to begin at noon. 

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