ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College baseball team won their second consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth title on Saturday at McGill Field, defeating Alvernia University 4-1 behind timely hitting and dominant pitching. Friday's starting pitcher Tommy Moore Jr. was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament after his six-strikeout performance in game one and great start against York in the semifinals.

Lebanon Valley (28-15-1) got the job done at the plate in game two of the series, scoring four runs on 10 hits. The club received contributions from several players, as four Dutchmen drove in runs. Designated hitter Jace Fetterman had a big day in the batter's box, picking up two base hits while driving in a run and scoring once. Starting pitcher Shane Stossel rose to the occasion, limiting Alvernia (27-18) in eight innings of one-run ball.

The Golden Wolves struck first in this one, taking a 1-0 in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly to right field. The Flying Dutchmen answered back in the bottom half of the third, tying the game at 1-1. Right fielder Pete Botbyl lined a single into right-center field, allowing Luke Blair to slide home safely.

LVC put another run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking a 2-1 advantage against Alvernia. Second baseman Conor Smith put the club ahead by grounding out to second, driving in Logan Brewer from third base.

The Golden Wolves had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning, as the team led off the frame with a triple down the right field line. The leadoff knock didn't faze Stossel, as the hurler induced a pop out to second, a ground out to third and a pop out to shortstop to escape the jam unscathed.

The Dutchmen added a couple insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, extending their lead to 4-1. Fetterman came through by lining a single to left-center field, scoring Dave Mangold all the way from first base. Blair later grounded a single through the right side of the infield, allowing Fetterman to dive in just ahead of the tag.

Alvernia didn't go down quietly in the top of the ninth inning, bringing the tying run to the plate in its final plate appearances. Lebanon Valley brought in reliever Hunter Tipton with a pair of runs on base. Tipton remained composed in the last frame, working a scoreless ninth to secure the Dutchmen's third MAC Commonwealth title in program history.

Inside the Box Score

• LVC has won back-to-back conference championships for the first time in program history.
• Fetterman registered two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
• Botbyl recorded a hit and drove in a run.
• Santoro picked up two knocks, giving him 71 hits on the season. The shortstop's single in the eighth inning broke his own single season program record for hits.
• Brewer doubled and scored a run.
• Smith logged a base hit and knocked in a run.
• Blair picked up a pair of hits while driving in a run and crossing the plate once.
• Stossel picked up his seventh win of the season.
• Tipton earned his second save of the year in a relief performance.

Up Next
The Dutchmen await the results of the NCAA Division III Tournament selection show at noon on Monday to see where they will head and who they will play in the regionals next weekend.