STEVENSON, Md. – Highlighted by a five-run second inning, the Stevenson University baseball team defeated Bard College 9-6 Wednesday afternoon at Sugar Field.

Stevenson (9-10) had three players knock in a pair of runs.  Senior Ian Eberly extended his hit streak to 10 games as he went 3-4 with two runs batted in, while classmate Craig Joseph was also 3-4 with two RBI.  Sophomore Billy Small had a solo home run in the third inning and was 2-4 with two runs driven in as well.

Bard (5-6) scored three times in the top of the first to open up a 3-0 lead, which it held until the second, when the Mustangs scored five times.  Stevenson had five hits while also taking advantage of a balk.

The first four Mustang hitters all singled.  Senior Nick Peifer and freshman Jonathan Lugo hit back-to-back singles to open the frame, then a Small single to the gap in right-center got the hosts on the board.  Freshman Andrew Millington reached on a bunt single, with Lugo scoring on a fielding error by the first baseman on the play.  After a sac bunt, a triple by Eberly put Stevenson on top.  Eberly plated the fifth run when he came in on a balk.

Stevenson took a 6-3 lead in the third on Small's two-out blast to right, then in the fourth, sophomore John D'Aquanno led off with a double and eventually scored on a sac fly by Wu.  The final two Mustang runs came in the sixth, with a Joseph double to right bringing home Eberly and D'Aquanno.

Bard plated solo runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth, but got no closer than 9-6.

Senior Matt Myers improved to 2-1 on the hill, allowing six hits and four runs (two earned) in five innings of work.  Junior Matt Phillips tossed three innings of relief and allowed five hits and two runs (one earned), before sophomore Darrin Hawkins worked a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up the save.

Stevenson returns to MAC Commonwealth play on Friday when it opens a three-game series with Hood College at home.  First pitch at Sugar Field is set for 3:30 pm.