FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 9, 2024) – Junior Eli Somers totaled four RBI on the day, while three Ducks picked up three hits in game two, but it wasn't enough as the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team lost to Lebanon Valley 4-2 and 17-10 Saturday at Florida Coast Spring Training.
Sophomore Erik Sibbach (3-1) took the loss in game one. He pitched three innings and allowed three runs on five hits. Sophomore William Sotiropoulos (1-1) lasted just 0.1 innings in the second game. He gave up eight runs on five hits and walked two batters. Stevens used seven pitchers in game two.
The Ducks (6-3, 0-2) have now lost three-straight after starting the year 6-0. Stevens opens up conference play with two losses. The Ducks have lost five of their last six MAC Freedom games dating back to last season.
With the loss, Stevens falls to 0-2 all-time against Lebanon Valley. The Dutchmen improved to 7-3 and 2-0 in MAC Freedom Play/.
The Rundown (Game 1)
- Lebanon Valley hit a two-run homer in the second to take a 2-0 lead.
- The Dutchmen added a solo shot in the third to go up three.
- Lebanon Valley made it 4-0 by hitting a solo home run in the seventh.
- Stevens scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to get back into the game, but were unable to complete the comeback. The Ducks had two runners on, one at third and one at second, with two outs in the frame. Junior Liam DeRubertis was on third after reaching on an error earlier, and Krese had walked earlier in the inning. Junior Eli Somers singled in the next at-bat to center to bring home both runs and put the tying run at the plate, but senior Christian Kreiser struck out, ending the game.
The Rundown (Game 2)
- The Dutchmen exploded for eight runs in the top of the first.
- Lebanon Valley added two runs in the top of the second.
- Trailing 10-0, Stevens got one back in the second. Sophomore Liam Houghton got on base as he was hit by a pitch. He then advanced to third on an error on a pickoff attempt. Senior Jack Stafford hit a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat to get the Ducks on the board.
- Lebanon Valley tacked on three more in the third.
- Stevens clawed back into it with six runs in the third. Graduate student hit an RBI single to bring home Kreiser to make it 13-2. Later on, Houghton doubled to left center to bring home two more runs. DeRubertis would later triple in the inning in his first at bat of the game, bringing home two runs in the process. He would later score on a wild pitch as the Ducks trailed 13-7.
- The visitors scored another in the fourth.
- Stevens got that run back in the fifth, as Somers picked up another RBI. Stafford scored on the play.
- To start the sixth, Reyes doubled, followed by a single from first-year Garret Wolf, that gave Stevens runners on third and first. Junior Colby Ching would later bring Reyes home with a sac fly.
- Lebanon Valley added two in the seventh.
- The Ducks picked up one more run in the seventh. Senior Kieran O'Brien doubled to start the inning, and he was later brought home by Somers. This made the score 16-10.
- The Dutchmen added one more in the eighth, as they held on for the victory.
Top Performers
- Somers recorded four hits and two RBI.
- Reyes scored two runs, had two hits, and batted in one run.
- Houghton tallied two runs, two RBI, and one hit in game two.
- Junior Joe Gonzalez was solid in relief in game two, as he pitched 3.1 innings. He struck out six batters and only gave up one run.
- Junior Zachary Boykin had three hits in game two.
For the Opponents
- Jacob Horton (1-1) earned the victory in game, allowing no runs and five hits. He also struck out three. Hunter Williams (2-0) earned the victory in game two out of the bullpen. He pitched 2.1 innings but allowed two runs.
- Owen Berry had two home runs in game one. He totaled four RBI, five hits, and four runs scored.
- Logan Brewer had three hits, two RBI, and scored twice.
Around the MAC Freedom
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