MYRTLE BEACH (Sc.)--- The Delaware Valley baseball team took an early 5-0 lead after four innings, but let up three runs in each the fifth and sixth innings before losing to Bethany College 7-6 on a walk-off wild pitch.
In the top of the first, Sean Gledhill was hit by a pitch and Hank Bielen singled to put runners on first and second with one out. After a ground out pushed both runners up, Kenny Tunison laced a two-out, two-run double to right center to put the Aggies on the board first. Jimmy Kelly followed with a double to plate Tunison and put DelVal (3-2) ahead 3-0 after one inning.
In the bottom of the first, the Bison (6-2) put runners on second and third with one out before loading the bases with two outs. First-year Orion Frailey worked out of the jam and struck out three in the inning to leave the bases loaded.
The score remained 3-0 through three innings when DelVal added to its lead in the fourth. After the first two batters were retired, the Aggies loaded the bases with two outs and Blake Ramos drove in two with an RBI double to give the Aggies a 5-0 lead.
Bethany responded with a three spot in the fifth on just two hits, but took advantage of three walks. Nick Covolus came on in relief and picked up a strikeout to strand the bases loaded and keep DelVal with the 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Bethany continued to add on, scoring a run on a wild pitch, a single and a fielder's choice to take a 6-5 lead after six.
With the score remaining 6-5, Jimmy Kelly led off the eighth with a single. After a fly-out, Garrett Zimmerman pushed Kelly to second with a sacrifice bunt. Andrew Schneider came to the plate as a pinch hitter and lined a single up the middle to score Kelly and even up the score at 6-6.
Connor Esbenshade kept Bethany off the board in the eighth to keep the score tied heading to the ninth. In the ninth, the Aggies loaded the bases with two outs, but were unable to push the go-ahead run across.
In the bottom half of the frame, the Bison started things off with a single to lead off the inning. Bethany eventually loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and a walk before winning the game on a walk-off wild pitch.
Jimmy Kelly and Reese Hackett each had two hits for DelVal while Blake Ramos and Kenny Tunison each drove in two runs. On the mound, Orion Fraley picked up eight strikeouts over 4.1 innings of work.
The Aggies will head back to Pennsylvania and take on Rosemont for a home doubleheader starting at noon on Friday, March 10th.
