ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Stevenson baseball team defeated Lebanon Valley College in a conference slugfest at McGill Field on Tuesday, taking the series finale and avoiding the sweep with a 14-7 victory. The Mustangs totaled 16 hits in the win, including three doubles and two home runs.

Stevenson (8-9, 3-6) broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth inning when they scored five runs on five hits. Sophomores Nick Peifer and Troy Miller recorded RBI doubles while sophomores Matt Myers and Ian Eberly each added RBI singles. Senior Tom Goulian also drove in a run with an RBI ground out.

The Dutchmen answered in the bottom of the frame with four runs, including a three-run home run from Corey Cinicola. A two-run shot from Devin Dellinger the very next inning gave Lebanon Valley (15-7, 6-3) a one run lead, bringing the score to 7-6.

The Mustangs batted around in the top of the eighth, putting up eight runs and securing the victory with a pair of three-run homers from senior Scott Merkel and Miller. Merkel's home run was his second multi-RBI shot of the season. Sophomore Kevin Wu also drove in two in the inning with a single.

On the mound, junior Brandon Franke earned his first victory of the year in his second start for Steveson, improving his record to 1-1. Franke surrendered seven earned runs in 5.1 innings of work, but benefitted from a strong offensive showing from the Mustangs. Freshman Jordan Szarko blanked the Dutchmen over the final 3.2 innings in relief of Franke, scattering four hits and striking out two.

Four Stevenson starters had multiple hits on the day, with eight of nine in the starting lineup recording at least one. Miller, Merkel, and Eberly went a combined 10-for-14 in the victory, driving in eight runs.

The Mustangs return to action on Friday with a conference contest against Widener University. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.