Scranton, PA (March 27, 2007) – The DeSales University baseball team tied a team record with 13 stolen bases and the Bulldogs pounded out 17 hits (all singles) en route to a 12-7 win over The University of Scranton in the Freedom Conference season opener for both teams.

 

        DeSales is now 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the Freedom Conference.  Junior Andrew Heard (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) got things started for the Bulldogs with a two-out walk in the first as Heard proceeded to steal second, third and home to plate the game’s first run.  Scranton responded with three runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the third on a two-run home run from Chris Psihoules after DSU had tied the game at three.

 

        Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning freshmen Mark Reilly (Cream Ridge, NJ/Notre Dame) and Doc Neiman (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) each came up big on the defensive end as the two combined to put a stop to a Royal rally as Reilly came in relief to strike out Kevin Johnson and Neiman tossed out Nick Rodio for an inning ending double play pushing the momentum to the DSU dugout.

 

        The Bulldogs responded with four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take an 8-5 lead and never looked back from there as the bullpen allowed just five hits and two unearned runs over 5.2 innings pitched to secure the victory.  In the top of the fifth, sophomore Matt Connors (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) came thru with a two-out, twp-RBI single to right field.

 

        Several Bulldogs had solid days at the plate including Connors who finished 2-for-5 with three RBI’s.  Heard was 1-for-3 with three walks and three runs scored, while setting a single game record with five stolen bases.

 

        Sophomore Zachary Hess (Harleysville, PA/LaSalle) finished the game 3-for-5 with one RBI, senior Matt Lezinsky (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) was 2-for-4 with two RBI’s, sophomore Mike Bianca (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. St. Joseph) was 4-for-5 with two RBI’s and Neiman had three hits on the day.  Reilly earned his first collegiate win on the mound going 0.2 innings with one strikeout.

 

        DeSales returns to action on Wednesday when they travel to Arcadia University for a non-conference game beginning at 3:00 pm.