ANNVILLE, Pa. – Second baseman Conor Smith's two-homer game on Saturday led the Lebanon Valley College baseball team to an 8-2 victory over York College of Pennsylvania in the first game of a best-of-three series in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth Semifinals at McGill Field on Saturday afternoon.

Lebanon Valley (25-15-1) picked up a key game one victory behind a balanced effort, featuring power at the plate and solid pitching on the mound. Smith had a career day in the batter's box, driving in five runs with a grand slam in the fifth inning. Starting pitcher Tommy Moore Jr. delivered a solid performance to keep York (20-19) in check, striking out seven batters in seven innings of work.

The Spartans opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout to second base. The Dutchmen answered right back in the bottom half of the frame, plating a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. Left fielder Dave Mangold sent a single to right field, driving in Smith. Center fielder Ryan Murphy later hit a ground ball to second base and reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Mangold to score on the play. 

York then evened the score in the top of the fourth inning, hitting a home run to right field to make it a 2-2 ballgame. LVC responded in the bottom of the fourth, crossing the plate to take a 3-2 lead. Smith reclaimed the club's advantage by launching a solo homer over the right-center field wall. 

The Flying Dutchmen made a statement in the bottom of the fifth inning, putting up five runs to extend their lead over the Spartans to 8-2. First baseman Logan Brewer lined a single through the left side of the infield, plating Murphy. Smith then put the game out of reach, crushing a grand slam over the right fight field wall to bring home Nico Santoro, Shane Stossel, and Brewer. 

The commanding lead would prove to be enough for Lebanon Valley, as the pitching staff cruised through the final four innings of the game. Moore Jr. concluded his start by blanking York in the sixth and seventh inning. Relievers Ryan Pickle and Brendan Landry then entered the game, with each posting a scoreless frame to secure the victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Six members of LVC's lineup scored runs during the game.
• Smith left the yard twice and hit a triple, driving in five runs in the process. The second baseman's grand slam in the fifth inning was the first of his collegiate career.
• Mangold recorded a two-hit game while also knocking in a run and crossing the plate once.
• Brewer registered a hit during game one, driving in a run and scoring as well.
• Murphy logged an RBI and a run scored. 
• Moore Jr. fanned seven Spartans in seven frames on the hill. 
• Pickle and Landry combined for two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Up Next

The Dutchmen will return to the diamond at noon tomorrow, as the club will continue its best-of-three series with the Spartans at McGill Field. The Dutchmen take the series if they win game two, but the clubs will play a series-deciding game three 30 minutes following the conclusion of the game tomorrow if the Spartans win.

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