CHESTER, Pa. – Jace Fetterman and Luke Blair both hit home runs in game two as the Lebanon Valley College baseball team split its Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth doubleheader with Widener University on Saturday afternoon, dropping the first game 9–3 and winning the second contest 7–4 at Widener Baseball Field. 

Game 1

Lebanon Valley (17-13-1, 13-4 MAC Commonwealth) delivered a solid effort in the batter's box, recording a total of 10 hits in the contest. The club trailed by just one run until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Widener (16-16, 10-7 MAC Commonwealth) extended their lead with a five-run frame. 

The Pride struck first in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a single to center field. The Flying Dutchmen then evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third, as second baseman Conor Smith lined a double down the right field to score Jace Fetterman.

Widener reclaimed its lead in the bottom half of the third frame, taking a 4-1 advantage on a bases-clearing three-run double to center field. LVC responded in the top of the fourth inning, plating a pair of runs to narrow its deficit to 4-3. The Dutchmen made it a one-run game courtesy of Santoro driving a two-run double to left field, plating Duncan Weir and Dave Mangold.

The Pride added some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a five-run inning. Widener extended its lead to 9-3 on two RBI doubles, an RBI single, and a two-run single.

Inside the Box Score

• Six Dutchmen recorded hits in the game.
• The club had three doubles in the contest, courtesy of Santoro, Smith, and Mangold.
• Santoro picked up two hits to extend his hitting streak to six games. The shortstop also drove in two runs.
• All three of Mangold's hits were doubles and he score a run. 
• Smith logged two knocks and drove in a run.

Game 2

The Flying Dutchmen (18-13-1, 14-4 MAC Commonwealth) came alive at the plate in the second game, outscoring the Pride (16-17, 11-7 MAC Commonwealth) to win the final game of the series. 

Lebanon Valley's bats got going early in this one, taking a 2-0 lead over Widener in the top of the first inning. As the second batter of the contest, Fetterman got things started by driving a solo home run over the right-center field wall. Later in the frame, first baseman Logan Brewer came home to score on a passed ball. The Dutchmen crossed the plate once again in the top of the second, as Weir brought home Luke Blair with a single to center field to make it a 3-0 ballgame. 

LVC continued its offensive showcase in the top of the fourth inning, posting a four-run frame to take a 7-0 lead. Blair led off the inning by sending a solo homer over the right field fence. Center fielder Ryan Murphy later came home to score on a passed ball. A couple of batters later, Smith lined a single to right-center field to drive in Weir. The scoring outburst was capped off by third baseman Andrew Miles reaching on a fielder's choice and Fetterman coming home on the play after an error by Widener's third baseman. 

The Pride attempted to claw back into the game, trimming the lead to 7-4 by the end of the sixth inning. Widener got on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the fourth and then added three more runs in the fifth inning on an RBI single and a two-run single. That would ultimately hold as the final score, as Jacob Detwiler worked a scoreless seventh inning of relief to close out the ballgame.  

Inside the Box Score

• Starting pitcher Tommy Moore Jr. struck out seven batters in six innings of work. 
• Five different Dutchmen drove in a run. 
• Fetterman hit his fifth homer of the season, walked twice, and scored two runs.
• Blair hit his second home run of the campaign and scored twice.
• Smith recorded three hits and drove in a run.
• Weir had two hits, an RBI, and a run scored.
• Detwiler fanned a pair of batters in relief. 

Up Next

The Dutchmen will return to action at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday as the club will travel to take on the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays at Kevin Scott Boyd Stadium in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. 

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