APRIL 10, 2017
BULLDOGS SCORE SIX RUNS IN THE SIXTH TO DEFEAT KING'S BASEBALL 6-2
WILKES-BARRE, PA --- The DeSales University baseball team scored six runs in the sixth inning to come away with a 6-2 victory over King's College on Monday afternoon in the rubber game of the three-game series at Lipo Field in Wilkes-Barre.
The Monarchs fall to 11-10 overall and 5-4 in conference play with the loss. DeSales, meanwhile improves to 11-11 overall and 7-2 in the conference.
King's, which batted first in the game despite the game being played in Wilkes-Barre, got on the board early with two runs in the first inning. Christian Pack hit the second pitch he saw into right for a single and then Chris Rebar walked. Kyle Lupas knocked in Pack with single to right center and Rebar advanced to third on the play. Sean Padden knocked in Rebar with a sacrifice fly to deep left field. Shawn Stone hit a two-out single to the gap in right center to put runners on the corner but the Bulldog third baseman made a nice grab on a hard grounder by Tom Gibbons to get out of the inning with no more damage.
In the second inning the Bulldogs threaten to score twice in the inning. First, after a walk to Tommy DePaul, Connor Lafferty hit a double to left centerfield. DePaul tried to score from first on the play but Pack relayed a throw from Brad Wilkins beating DePaul at the plate for the second out of the inning. A walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases but Dan Hartson was able to get out of the inning when he jumped off the mound to grab a slow roller down the third baseline and threw runner his throw just beat the speedy Hunter Hart to first. Hartson got out of another bases loaded jam in the third inning when Tom Gibbons raced in to grab a liner to right off the bat of Lafferty to end the inning.
The Bulldogs broke through with six runs in the sixth inning. DePaul led off with a walk and then stole second. Lafferty reached on a throwing error, and then Jamie Bavaro walked to load the bases. Preston Amato cleared the bases with a double over the left fielder's head to give the Bulldogs the lead. Amato then scored on a wild pitch. Nick White then hit a one-out two run home run giving the Bulldogs a 6-2 lead.
Offensively the Monarchs struggled to get anyone on base after the first inning. Adam Donovan did a great job keeping the Monarch hitters off balanced retiring 17 batters in a row until Shawn Stone drew a one-out walk in the seventh. Gibbons was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second but Donovan got a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning. In the eighth Sean McKee drew a one-out walk but Tyler Cooperman, who came in relief of Donovan on the mound, forced a 6-4-3 double play to keep King's off the board.
The Monarchs tried to rally in the ninth when Padden walked and Stone hit a single to left center with two outs. However the Bulldogs forced a ground ball to the shortstop who made the short toss to second to end the game.
Shawn Stone led the Monarchs with two hits while Kyle Lupas had a hit and a RBI. Sean Padden knocked in a run, Christian Pack had a hit and scored a run, and Chris Rebar scored a run. Dan Hartson pitched 5.0 innings to pick up the loss on the mound. He allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits with seven walks and one strikeout. Matt Hassick got one out in relief allowing two runs on one hit and a walk. Chris Lupole pitched the final 2.2 innings allowing just one hit and striking out three.
The Bulldogs were led by Nick White with two hits, two RBI, and a run scored. Preston Amato knocked in three runs and scored one. Adam Donovan pitched 7.0 innings to pick up the win on the mound. He allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five. Tyler Cooperman pitched the final two innings allowing one hits while walking two and striking out one.
King's will return to the diamond on Wednesday when they face six-time defending conference champion Misericordia University at Tambur Field in Dallas. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.