DOYLESTOWN (PA) – The Delaware Valley University baseball team earned a doubleheader split against Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom foe King's College on Sunday.
The Monarchs took the first game 5-2 but the Aggies came back to win the second, 9-8. DelVal celebrated their three seniors between the two contests: Matt Dewald, Jake Richard and Corey White.
DelVal trailed 8-7 entering the bottom of the seventh inning in game two. Freshman catcher Ryan Schuetrumpf led off with a walk. Freshman third baseman Josh Morgan then blasted a triple into the gap in right center to score Schuetrumpf and tie the game. After junior center fielder Mike Anusky walked, sophomore shortstop Kevin Crill lined a hit just above the outreached glove of the second baseman into right center to win the game.
King's had the first runs of the contest, scoring four in the top of the third. The Aggies tallied two in the bottom of the inning. Junior outfielder Nate Cummings and junior left fielder Bobby Altieri both had RBI singles.
The Monarchs took a 5-2 advantage in the fifth but DelVal struck for four runs in the bottom of the frame. All four markers scored on consecutive plays as Altieri brought home a run on a fielder's choice, Dewald singled through the left side, sophomore first baseman Jeremy Stewart doubled down the left field line and Schuetrumpf had a sacrifice fly.
The Aggies added an insurance run in the sixth but it proved for naught as King's first baseman Chris Rebar smacked a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh. However, that set up the DelVal rally in the bottom of the inning.
Sophomore Nick Liantonio was the winning pitcher in relief. He (2-0) went the final four frames and allowed four runs, two earned, on two hits. Liantonio struck out four. Chris Marconi took the loss (0-1).
In the opener, King's jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Designated hitter Kyle Lupas doubled down the left field line to score Rebar. The Aggies tied the game in the second on Crill's fielder's choice. Morgan came home on the play.
Each team put up a run in the fifth. Rebar had a sac fly and Dewald hit a RBI single through the right side. The Monarchs took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth. Left fielder Bruce Breithaupt added insurance in the seventh with a solo shot to right.
Andrew Fisher tossed a complete game for the victory (5-2). He surrendered two runs on eight hits while fanning four. Richard suffered the loss (2-4), allowing four runs, three earned, and four hits. He struck out seven and moved into seventh place on the all-time list with 150 in his career.
Altieri went five-for-eight on the day with two RBI and a run scored. Crill was two-for-four with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Dewald drove in two runs while Morgan and Cummings both scored twice.
Rebar finished three-for-six for King's with a double, a home run, six RBI and three runs scored. Breithaupt knocked in two runs and Lupas had one RBI. Tom Gibbons, Sean McKee and Nick Trivigino each touched the plate twice.
Next, Delaware Valley visits Gwynedd Mercy University for a non-conference game on Wednesday, April 27 (3:30 p.m.).