DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (March 25, 2022)  – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team scored six times in the eighth inning to rally and defeat Delaware Valley University 9-8 Friday in a MAC Freedom game at Frank Wolfgang Field.

Junior Michael Reyes homered and senior Ryan Wall reached base four times for the Ducks, who won their third straight to improve to 14-6 on the year and to 3-1 in conference play. The contest marked the beginning of a three-game weekend series for the teams.

Hank Bielen went 3 for 5 with four RBI and Kenneth Tunison drove in a pair for Delaware Valley, who fell to 6-7 on the year. The Aggies have dropped four of the last five contests. Stevens has won all five meetings between the programs.

"Things are continuing not to come easy; we are battling through some stuff right now," head coach Kristaps Aldins said. "But to continue being able to produce wins in spite of this is an excellent sign."

Trailing by five, junior Ben Tobio reached on an error to spark the game-changing rally. Wall singled to move the Ducks' catcher to third. Graduate student Hunter Silvernail singled to right to plate the first run of the inning. Graduate student Thomas Paulich doubled down the left-field line to drive in Silvernail and Wall. Reyes followed with his second homer of the year to draw the Ducks even at seven. 

Senior Sutton Dole singled to chase John Slover (2-1) from the game. Slover allowed five runs on five hits without retiring a batter.

Pinch-runner Peter Mastopolo was thrown out stealing and senior Ryan Finegan grounded out, but first-year Evan Pravato kept the inning alive with a two-out double to right field. The Ducks' rookie promptly stole third and came around to score on a wild pitch. 

The Ducks added a key insurance run in the ninth when Tobio scored on a bases-loaded double play.

"It was a great comeback with contributions from many in our lineup," Aldins commented. "I am very proud of our team for finding a way to pull this one out."

The Ducks' bats were in a position to rally because junior Justin Doyle (2-0) scattered three hits over five innings out of the pen. The right-hander walked two and struck out five. Doyle has allowed just seven baserunners over his last 12 innings. 

Delaware Valley built its early lead against junior Anthony Pron, who allowed seven runs in four innings, but didn't factor into the decision.
    
Silvernail drove in Wall to open the game's scoring with an RBI single in the first. The Ducks also plated a run on a double play in the sixth.

Up Next: The Ducks and the Aggies close out their three-game series Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader at Dobbelaar Field. Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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