Boyertown, PA (May 21, 2005) – The DeSales University baseball team advanced to the winner’s bracket championship game of the 2005 NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional Baseball Tournament on Saturday morning with a 10-4 win over Alvernia College at Bear Stadium in Boyertown, PA.

 

        The win is No. 400 for head coach Tim Neiman who improves to 400-200-3 (.666) for his career.  He is the first coach in DeSales history to win 400+ games as the Bulldogs improve to 35-8 on the season.  DSU will now play Rowan University in the winner’s bracket championship game.  The winner of the game advances to the championship round to play the team that emerges from the loser’s bracket.

 

        DeSales had to come from behind early as they trailed Alvernia 3-1 after the first inning and 4-1 thru three frames.  Senior Ian Hauze (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) started the comeback with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning and DSU plated its third run to cut the lead to one on a Crusader error later in the inning.

 

        The score continued to be 4-3 thru five innings before the Bulldogs broke it open with five tallies in the sixth inning.  Senior Nolan Neiman (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) had a two-RBI single, junior Matt Burkhart (Reading, PA/Exeter Township) and senior Kyle Peters (Allentown, PA/Parkland) each had RBI singles and Hauze had a sacrifice fly to give DSU an 8-4 lead after five and a half innings.

 

        DSU added some insurance in the seventh inning as Neiman hit another RBI single and senior Dan Fratantoro (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) scored on a throwing error by the centerfielder.

 

        Junior Matt Reppert (Allentown, PA/Dieruff) earned the win as he lasted six innings scattering six hits and allowing three earned runs to go along with six strikeouts.  He improves to 8-2 on the season.  Junior Joe Chapman (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) recorded his second save of the season, pitching the final three innings allowing one hit and striking out four.

 

        Hauze and Neiman each finished the game with three hits, one run scored and three RBI’s apiece.  Fratantoro scored three times and sophomore Matt Lezinsky (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) was 2-for-4 with a run scored.