Center Valley, PA, (April 13, 2006) – The DeSales University baseball team committed three costly errors leading to five Monarch runs and propelling King’s College to an 8-7 win at Butz Field in Freedom Conference action on Thursday afternoon.  The loss drops DSU to 13-11 overall and 6-2 in the Freedom Conference, while the win improves the Monarchs to 14-10 overall and 8-3 in the conference standings.

 

        DeSales got on the board first scoring three times in the third inning on an RBI double from freshman Matt Connors (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) and an RBI single from freshman Mike Bianca (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. St. Joseph).  Connors also scored after stealing third base and advancing home on a throwing error by KC’s catcher.

 

        KC tied the score at three in the fifth on an RBI single by JR Graver.  DSU seemed to be out of the inning when Mike Venarchik’s fly ball to leftfield seemed like a routine catch but the swirling winds pushed the ball from leftfield to dead centerfield and no one was able to make the catch tying the score at three.

 

        The Bulldogs wasted no time re-taking the lead as sophomore Scott Matejicka (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) knocked in Bianca with an RBI double and later scored on a throwing error by the Monarch shortstop.

 

        That lead was short lived however as King’s scored the first three of five unearned runs in the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead.  Jeremy Faust and Nick Sorino led off the inning with singles.  A sacrifice bunt that should have been the first out of the inning turned into an error when the throw to first was dropped scoring Faust.  With one out and runners on the corners, Graver lined a ball right to the second basemen but the ball glanced off his glove and into right field for the second error of the inning.

 

        Caleb Calarco knocked in the final run with a single to right field and freshman Andrew Kulhamer (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) retired the final two batters to end the rally.  Following the inning the umpire sent both teams back to the benches after a storm was passing over Butz Field and lightning was spotted in the area.  A 30-minute weather delay was enforced with King’s leading 6-5.

 

        When play resumed the Bulldogs were held off the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth and the Monarchs increased its lead with two more unearned runs.  Senior Pete Quarracino (Kimberton, PA/Phoenixville) allowed the first two runners to reach base but retired the next two hitters and induced a ground ball to second base that seemed like the inning ending out, but the ball rolled thru the second baseman’s legs and into centerfield scoring two runs and giving KC the 8-5 lead.

 

        DSU fought back with one run in the eighth on an RBI single from freshman Greg Treat (Concord, NH/Concord), scoring senior Derek Miller (Green Lane, PA/Upper Perkiomen) who had tripled to lead off the inning.  The Bulldogs got within one run in the bottom of the ninth when freshman Mike Pennington (Dresher, PA/LaSalle College) singled home freshman pinch-runner Anthony Calafato (Clementon, NJ/Highland Regional) after he ran for Matejicka who doubled to lead off the frame.  KC retired the next two hitters however stranding the game-tying run at first base and ending the game.

 

        Sophomore JT Brotosky (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) took the loss in relief of senior Jon Pallone (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) who pitched five strong innings before leaving with a 5-3 lead.  Junior Paul Giovannoli improves to 4-1 with the win as he lasted seven innings allowing 10 hits and six runs for the Monarchs.