Box Score CENTER VALLEY (PA) – Delaware Valley University got out to a 6-0 lead, but could not hold on as Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom front-runner DeSales University pulled out an 8-7 home victory.
The Aggies moved to 15-16 overall and 6-13 in league play while the Bulldogs maintained first-place in the MAC Freedom with two games to play and improved to 15-4 in conference games and 23-15 overall.
In the top of the first, DelVal loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a bunt single by
Kyle Wenger. Then, with two outs, the Aggies scored three runs on a pair of walks and an error.
DelVal loaded the bases with two outs again in the second, but failed to score. In the fourth,
Josh Morgan got aboard with a single and came around to score on a triple by Wenger. The three-base knock was Wenger's fourth of the season and 16
th of his career, setting a new all-time program record.
Sammy Amos was up next and he knocked in Wenger with a fielder's choice to first to make it 6-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
In that frame, DeSales loaded the bases after a hit batter and two walks, but
Trevor Dalton got Richie Lancashire to fly out to left to end the threat.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the fifth thanks to a lead-off double by Pat Rhodes and three consecutive bunt singles that resulted in an RBI for Preston Amato. They scored one more run on a double play to make it 6-2.
Bobby Altieri got one of the runs back for DelVal in the sixth when he drove in Amos who was aboard with an infield single.
DeSales pulled to within two in the bottom of the frame with three runs on one hit. Tommy DePaul picked up a two-run single and Amato knocked in one with a bunt single to make it 7-5 after six. Connor Lafferty then knotted the game at 7-7 in the seventh inning with a single through the left side.
The Aggies went down in order in the top of the eighth and the Bulldogs capitalized in their half of the frame. Amato got on with a single and came around to score the game-winning run on a double to left field by Tyler Sweeney. DelVal did not get anyone on base in the ninth and DeSales escaped with the 8-7 victory.
Wenger finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI to go with his record-breaking triple. Amos and Morgan each picked up two hits and scored once with Amos also earning an RBI. Alteiri,
Nate Cummings and
Troy Lachenmayer also had one RBI apiece.
Trevor Dalton got the start on the mound and pitched five-plus innings giving up four runs while
James Eldridge suffered the loss.
For the Bulldogs, Sweeney was 3-for-5 with an RBI while Amato and DePaul each finished with two hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Adam Donovan got the start but was pulled in the fourth and Austin Kroeger came on and was credited with the win. Tyler Cooperman earned his fourth save of the year.
The series will shift to Doylestown on Saturday to conclude the regular season with a doubleheader slated for 12 p.m.
