BOX SCORE
Scranton, PA (April 15, 2008) – The DeSales University baseball team surrendered a one-run lead in bottom of the ninth inning and were unable to get anything going offensively in the four extra innings falling in the 13th, 8-7, at The University of Scranton on Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game.
The loss is the third straight for the Bulldogs who fall to 13-16-1 overall on the season. DSU had a 4-0 lead early, only to see Scranton fight back to go ahead 6-4 after scoring four times in the sixth inning. The Bulldogs answered with three runs in the seventh to take a 7-6 lead but were unable to hold the lead in the ninth when the Royals hit a solo home run to tie it with one out and won the game in the 13th when the lead-off batter singled, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on errant throw by the DSU catcher.
The Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run from junior Zac Hess (Harleysville, PA/LaSalle), an RBI double from junior Greg Treat (Concord, NH/Concord) and an RBI groundout from junior Nick Repas (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air). The lead swelled to 4-0 in the third when senior Scott Matejicka (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) hit a solo homer.
Following the Royal's four-run rally in the sixth giving the hosts a 6-4 lead, DSU rallied when Hess knocked in two runs with a single and sophomore Doc Neiman (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) plated Hess with an RBI ground out.
The Bulldogs had something going to start the 11th inning when junior Matt Connors (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) and sophomore Ryan Blacker (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) each walked to start the inning but a ground ball double play spoiled the rally and DSU went in order in the 10th, 12th and 13th innings.
Hess finished the game with a 3-for-5 line including three RBI's and two runs scored. Freshman Mike Newland (Frenchtown, NJ/Delaware Valley) and Repas each had two hits as the only three players with double digit hits.
Junior Andrew Kulhamer (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) took the loss facing just one batter in the 13th that later scored on the lone Bulldog error of the day. Sophomore Joe Walsh (Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills) pitched well going 2.2 innings allowing just one hit and striking out one
The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday afternoon when they host Rutgers-Camden in another non-conference game beginning at 3:30 pm at Butz Field.
