READING, Pa. – Shane Stossel's key contributions on both sides of the ball in the first game of Monday's doubleheader helped the Lebanon Valley College baseball team secure the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament and win their second consecutive regular season conference championship. The Dutchmen swept the twin bill against Alvernia University at Angelica Park, winning the first game 6-3 and posting a 6-1 victory in game two. The first win also provided head coach Jonas Fester with his 100th career win.
Game 1
Lebanon Valley (23-15-1, 18-5 MAC Commonwealth) took the first game against Alvernia (25-14, 15-8 MAC Commonwealth) behind timely hitting and solid pitching. Stossel led the way as both the starting pitcher and designated hitter, driving in two runs at the plate and striking out six batters on the mound. The Dutchmen opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead. Stossel hit a ground ball that was bobbled by the shortstop before rolling into the outfield, allowing Pete Botbyl to score on the error. The Golden Wolves then responded in the bottom of the first, tying the game at 1-1 on a groundout to shortstop.
LVC got its offense rolling again in the top of the third inning, crossing the plate twice to take a 3-1 lead. Shortstop Nico Santoro sent an opposite-field single to right, driving in Ryan Murphy. First baseman Logan Brewer followed this by powering a double to left-center field, bringing home Santoro. Alvernia got one of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth, trimming Lebanon Valley's lead to 3-2 after a runner scored on a double play. The Flying Dutchmen added a few insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning, extending their advantage to 6-2. Brewer drew a walk with the bases loaded, forcing home Jace Fetterman. Stossel then lined a two-run single through the left side of the infield, plating Santoro and Andrew Miles. The Golden Wolves attempted a comeback in the bottom half of the frame, making it a 6-3 game on a home run to left field. Jacob Detwiler entered the game with two outs and got the last out to secure the victory and earn the save.
Inside the Box Score
- Santoro picked up a single to extend his hitting streak to seven games. The shortstop also drove in a run and scored twice.
- Brewer doubled and knocked in two runs.
- Murphy posted a two-hit game, scoring once and stealing a base in the process.
- Stossel recorded a hit and two RBIs. He also fanned six batters in 6.2 innings on the mound, leading to his sixth victory of the season.
- Jacob Detwiler earned his third save of the campaign in a relief outing.
- Fester won his 100th game as head coach of LVC.
- The win also clinched the regular season championship. It is the first time in program history the Dutchmen have finished first atop the conference standings in back-to-back years.
Game 2
Lebanon Valley (24-15-1, 19-5 MAC Commonwealth) continued to put together productive at-bats in the second game, scoring six runs on nine hits. Left fielder Brian Hammond helped lead the way, launching a three-run home run for his first collegiate long ball. The club also received quality innings from its pitching staff, as six hurlers combined to limit Alvernia (25-15, 15-9 MAC Commonwealth) to just one run while striking out a total of seven batters.
The Dutchmen also got on the board first in game two, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Hammond started things by driving a three-run homer over the left field wall, bringing home John Adams and Anthony Giancatarino. Adams made another contribution in the top of the third, driving in Justin Ranker with a single to left field. The right fielder's first RBI of the season provided LVC with a 4-0 lead over Alvernia. Lebanon Valley then tacked on some insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning, extending their advantage to 6-0. Adams continued his productive afternoon in the batter's box, lining a single down the right field line to plate Luke Blair. Later in the frame, Adams stole second and the throw from Alvernia's catcher went into center field. This allowed Ethan O'Loughlin to cross the dish.
The Golden Wolves attempted to rally late in the game, trimming the Dutchmen's lead to 6-1 on a single up the middle. This would hold as the final score, as Brendan Landry threw a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts to close out the contest.
Inside the Box Score
- Six Dutchmen scored runs in game two.
- Hammond hit his first career home run, giving LVC a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
- Adams recorded two knocks, two RBIs, and a run scored.
- Blair picked up two hits and a run scored.
- Jacob Horton started the game on the mound, delivering 3.1 scoreless frames.
- Lebanon Valley ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak.
Up Next
The doubleheader sweep concludes the regular season for the Dutchmen, providing the club with a 19-5 conference record and the MAC Commonwealth Regular Season Championship. Lebanon Valley will return to the diamond on Saturday, May 6, as they will open the best-of-three MAC Commonwealth Semifinals series at McGill Field in Annville, Pennsylvania. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. with their opponent yet to be decided but it will be either Messiah University, York College of Pennsylvania, or Widener University.
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