DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) —  Stevens Institute of Technology used a six-run eighth inning capped by a game-tying two-run home run by Michael Reyes to come-from-behind and overcome host Delaware Valley University, 9-8, in the opening game of a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom series.

The Ducks (14-6) got on the board first when designated hitter Hunter Silvernail stroked an RBI single into right center to score first baseman Ryan Wall in the top of the first inning. 

The Aggies (6-7) responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame on four hits and one error ofr Stevens starting pitcher Anthony Pron. DelVal got its first two runners aboard, Timmy Lallis moved them into scoring position, and Kenny Tunison got the team on the board with an RBI single to right field. The next batter, Jimmy Kelly, drove a ball to the gap in right center that plated two, and Hank Bielen followed with a single to score Kelly to put the Aggies on top 4-1 after one.

Needing a shutdown inning, DelVal starting pitcher Derek Cannon set the Ducks down in order in the top on the second inning, inducing two pop-ups and a strike out.  

The Aggies stayed hot in the bottom of the second adding one run on three hits, including the second hits of the day by Shawne Eldridge and Tunison. 

In the top of the third, Cannon tossed another scoreless inning for the Green and Gold, setting the Ducks down in order again while picking up another strikeout and allowing no hits.  The Aggies were held scoreless in the bottom half of the third, although freshman second baseman Gage Ambruster continued his hot hitting with a double to the right-center gap. 

Cannon ran into a little trouble in the top half of the fourth inning, allowing two hits with one walk and a hit by pitch, but was able to work out of a bases loaded jam and keep it a 5-1 game.  Cannon got another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth and the DelVal offense went back to work.

Tunison led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk, Kelly followed with his second double of the game and Bielen drove them both home with a double down the left field line for his second and third RBIs and a 7-1 Aggie lead.

DelVal conceded one run back to Stevens as it went around the horn to turn a double play, but allowed Ryan Wall to score. Another scoreless inning by Cannon in the seventh ended his day and the game went to the eighth with the Aggies maintaining a 7-2 lead.

John Slover came on in relief of Cannon and the Ducks got the lead off runner aboard on an error. From there, the visitors hit two singles, a double, and Reyes followed with his two run blast over the right field fence to tie the game at 7-7. The next batter was Sutton Dole and he sent a single to center field. After two outs, Evan Pravato doubled to right, stole third, and came around to give the Ducks the lead, 8-7, on a wild pitch.

DelVal got just one hit in the bottom of the eighth and Stevens tacked on one more in the top of the ninth to take a 9-7 lead into the final half inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Tunison worked a one out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Bielen sent a single into center field and Tunison came around to score to make it a one-run game, but the next batter was retired with a fly ball to left to end the game.

Cannon's solid start on the mound included seven innings of five-hit ball with two earned runs allowed, four strikeouts, and two walks. Slover suffered the loss, and Alex Crim finished the game with two innings pitched and three hits allowed. Bielen and Eldridge each had three hits in the game and Tunison went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI, and two walks.

Reyes and Wall led the Ducks at the dish with three hits each and Wall came around to score three times. Reyes, Paulich, and Silvernail each drove in two runs. Starting pitcher Anthony Pron went four innings and allowed six earned runs with two walks and a strikeout. Justin Doyle earned the win in relief, allowing one earned run on three hits with five punch outs.

These two squads will finish the MAC Freedom series on Sunday in Hoboken, New Jersey with a doubleheader slated for a 12 p.m. first pitch.