Center Valley, PA, (May 1, 2006) – The DeSales University baseball team rallied from an early deficit once again, defeating local rival Muhlenberg College, 9-8, in non-conference action on a beautiful Monday afternoon at Butz Field.

 

        The Mules (15-20-1 overall) led 5-0 after four innings after they put a five spot on the board with six singles in the top of the fourth.  DSU rallied with four runs of its own in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 5-4 game before MC pushed the lead up to four runs with three unearned tallies in the top of the sixth inning.  The DSU (21-17 overall) bullpen shut down Muhlenberg the rest of the way and the Bulldogs scored in each of the final four innings to earn the come from behind win.

 

        In the seventh, freshman Mike Pennington (Dresher, PA/LaSalle College HS) and senior Matt Burkhart (Reading, PA/Exeter Township) each had RBI singles to make it an 8-6 game.  Sophomore Andrew Heard (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) doubled home freshman Mike Piekarski (Metuchen, NJ/Metuchen) in the eighth and freshman Matt Connors (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) pushed fellow freshman Mike Bianca (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. St. Joseph) home in the ninth to tie the game at eight.

 

        Sophomore Mike Concilio (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) stranded a Mule runner at second in the top of the 10^th and Heard led off the bottom of the inning with a single.  He was sacrificed to second by senior Derek Miller (Green Lane, PA/Upper Perkiomen) and stole third base while Pennington was being intentionally walked.  Bianca then hit a shallow fly ball to centerfield but Heard tagged on the play and scored to give DSU the 9-8 win.

 

        Concilio earned the win with two strong innings of relief.  Heard had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI’s, Miller had three hits and two runs scored, Pennington drove in three runs and Connors and Matejicka each had two hits to lead the offensive attack.