Center Valley, PA (May 4, 2017) - The DeSales University baseball team fell behind 6-0 after four innings but battled all the way back scoring in each of the last four innings to earn an 8-7 comeback win over Delaware Valley University in the first of three games this weekend at Butz Field on Thursday.
The win moves DSU's (23-15, 15-4 MAC Freedom) magic number to clinch the #1 seed in the MAC Freedom postseason tournament to just one, meaning one win in the doubleheader finale or one Misericordia loss to Manhattanville College will clinch the top seed in next weekend's tournament.
The Bulldogs gave up three runs on four walks and an error in the first inning on Thursday to fall behind 3-0 and mistakes proved costly again in the fourth as another DSU error forced one more run home in the Aggies (15-16, 6-13 MAC Freedom) three-run fourth as Del. Val. took a 6-0 lead.
DeSales started its comeback in the fifth scoring twice on a leadoff double and three straight bunt hits. Â After DVU got one run back in the top of the sixth DSU pulled to within 7-5 with a three-run sixth that included a two-RBI single from seniorÂ
Tommy DePaul and RBI squeeze bunt from sophomoreÂ
Preston Amato.
The Bulldogs completed the comeback in the seventh tying the game at seven on a two-RBI single from juniorÂ
Conner Lafferty. Â DSU worked out of a two-out jam in the eighth and took the lead for the first time in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double from seniorÂ
Tyler Sweeney.
SeniorÂ
Tyler Cooperman did the rest pitching a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save of the season.
SophomoreÂ
Austin Kroeger earns
TW Cooper Insurance Player of the Game honors earning the win pitching four and a third strong innings of relief allowing just three hits and striking out five.
Sweeney had three hits and DePaul and Amato each had two hits and two RBIs in the win.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to finish the series on Saturday at Delaware Valley beginning at Noon.
