Wilkes-Barre, PA, (April 16, 2005) – The DeSales University baseball team settled for a split of its doubleheader at Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon in Artillery Park. DSU takes two of three in the three game set to earn the tiebreaker after winning game one, 7-1, and losing game two, 6-2.
During the doubleheader senior Ian Hauze (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) tied two school-records as he is now atop the all-time list in RBI’s with 148 and runs scored with 171. He tied both marks in the first inning of game two when he hit a solo home run. He ties Brett Vargo for the all-time lead in RBI’s and Pete Remaly for the top spot in runs scored.
The split moves DSU’s record to 21-6 overall and 11-4 in the Freedom Conference as they regain control of first place with just one three-game series left with Scranton on April 29-30th. The Colonels move to 17-11-1 overall and 8-4 in the conference standings as they fall to second place by virtue of DeSales owning the tiebreaker having won two of three this weekend in the season series.
In game one, senior Anthony Palmieri (Morgantown, PA/Upper Merion), the Cambridge Search Player of the Game, improved to 5-0 on the season going seven strong innings allowing just five hits and one run while striking out eight. Senior Kyle Hoffman (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) led the offensive attack going 3-for-3 with two RBI’s.
DSU scored once in the first and twice in the third to take a 3-0 lead and extended that lead to 5-0 in the fourth with two more tallies. Sophomore Matt Lezinsky (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) and senior Nolan Neiman (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in game one and senior Kyle Peters (Allentown, PA/Parkland) was 2-for-2 with an RBI in the win.
In game two, DSU started strong as Cambridge Search Player of the Game Ian Hauze hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning that was followed by an RBI single from senior Dan Fratantoro (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) giving DSU a 2-0 lead.
Wilkes went in order in the bottom of the first but touched up Bulldog starter Joe Chapman (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) in the second inning for three runs as the Colonels took a 3-2 lead. The lead continued to be 3-2 before WU scored three unearned runs off relief pitcher Jon Kensecki (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) in the bottom of the fifth inning and DSU could never get the bats started past the first.
Chapman took the loss falling to 3-3 on the year as Neiman, Hoffman and senior Brian Podolak (Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth’s) each had two hits in the loss. The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Kean University of a non-league game beginning at 3:30 pm.
