BOX SCORE
York, PA (March 25, 2008) – The DeSales University baseball team hit three home runs and survived a slugfest with York College (PA), who also hit three home runs, winning its third straight game, 14-11, in a non-conference game on Tuesday afternoon in York, PA.
The Bulldogs improve to 9-8 overall and move over .500 for the first time since the first game of the year when they were 1-0. The Spartans fall to 4-14 overall on the season. The two teams combined for 27 hits and 25 runs in the game. DSU made three errors leading to eight unearned runs for York, while YCP made four errors leading to just two unearned runs for the Bulldogs.
DeSales got things started in the top of the first inning when senior Scott Matejicka (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot with two outs, staking the Bulldogs to a 1-0 lead. After sophomore Andrew Feher (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades) was hit by pitch, freshman Evan Zechman (Wilmington, DE/St. Mark's) laced his first career home run to left field to give DSU a 3-0 lead.
York went scoreless in the first but took control of the game in the second and third inning plating two runs in the second and three in the third to take a 5-3 lead. DSU wasted no time tying the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI double from junior Matt Connors (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) and an RBI ground ball from junior Mike Bianca (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. St. Joseph).
The two teams traded solo runs in the fifth and sixth innings and each went scoreless in the seventh as the game remained tied at seven entering the top of the eighth inning. DSU struck once again with two outs as senior Andrew Heard (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) and Matejicka hit back-to-back doubles giving DSU an 8-7 lead.
After pinch-hitter, junior Zac Hess (Harleysville, PA/LaSalle) walked, Zechman plated Matejicka with an RBI single and sophomore Doc Neiman (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) came the Bulldogs some breathing room with a three-run home run to leftfield giving DeSales a five-run lead.
The Spartans refused to go quietly as they scored four times in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 12-11, but DSU answered with two runs in the top of the ninth inning on a two-RBI double from sophomore Ryan Blacker (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) and sophomore Joe Walsh (Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills) did the rest pitching a scoreless ninth inning to record his second save of the season.
Sophomore Mark Reilly (Cream Ridge, NJ/Notre Dame) earned the win pitching two innings of relief allowing four hits and one earned run, while striking out two. Four Bulldog pitchers combined to allow just three earned runs and strike out six, while walking just one in the win.
Matejicka went 3-for-4 with three RBI's, while Zechman and Neiman each finished with two hits, two runs scored and three RBI's to lead the offensive attack. Heard also had two hits and scored twice in the win.
The Bulldogs return to action on Friday when they travel to Manhattanville College for a Freedom Conference game beginning at 3:30 pm. For those unable to attend, the Valiants will offer LIVE STATS to follow along on the computer.
