CENTER VALLEY (PA) – Jake Barben went 3-for-3 with two RBIs at the plate and then earned the save on the mound as Delaware Valley College notched a 3-2 victory at Freedom Conference front-runner DeSales University.

It was the first game of the series between the teams as the scene will now shift to Doylestown for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 9. Thursday's win improved the Aggies to 4-10 overall and 1-3 in the Freedom while DeSales fell to 11-8 and 6-2.

Delaware Valley got on the scoreboard in the first as, with two outs, Kellen Jarrett singled and Dan Hrubos was hit by a pitch. That brought Barben to the plate and the first baseman smacked a long single to right-center that scored both Jarrett and Hrubos for a 2-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Chad Schmuck took it from there as the freshman retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced with the lone Bulldog baserunner being a third-inning walk to Bill Marriott. The Aggies then upped their lead in the top of the fourth as Barben singled and moved to second on a two-out single by Mike Otstot. Jim Calabrese then followed with a single of his own and it scored Barben for a 3-0 Aggie advantage.

Schmuck retired DeSales in order in the fourth before giving up his first hit in the fifth – a single by Derek Chrismer. Chrismer moved to second on a ground out and then scored on an RBI single by Marriott to make it a 3-1 contest.

Schmuck pitched into the eighth inning until he was removed following a one-out walk. Calabrese moved from third base to the mound and walked his first two batters to load the bases. A Carson Slonaker ground out brought in a run and moved the others runners to second and third. An intentional walk reloaded the bases, but Calabrese got out of the jam as Ethan Moser grounded out to first.

After the Aggies went in order in the top of the ninth, it was Barben's turn to take the mound. He got the first two batters out before Marriott drew a walk. Justin Scerbo pinch-ran for Marriott and promptly stole second to move into scoring position. However, Barben got a called third strike on Kenny Ridge to give Delaware Valley the win. It was Barben's first save of the season.

Schmuck picked up his first collegiate win (1-2) as he final numbers were two runs and three hits allowed in seven-plus innings. Jack Kavetski took the loss for the Bulldogs as he pitched four innings and allowed three runs on five hits.