Box Score PHILADELPHIA – The Stevenson University baseball team nearly clawed back from a 10-run hole before it fell 14-8 to Arcadia University in MAC Commonwealth action Friday afternoon at Erny Field.
Arcadia (18-10-1, 9-4 MAC Commonwealth) grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first, then banged out nine hits in the bottom of the third to build a 10-0 lead.
Stevenson (15-16, 6-7 MAC Commonwealth) scored three times in the fifth and two more in the sixth to cut the gap to 10-5. Freshman Jonathan Lugo singled to lead off the inning and scored when classmate Zachary Tocker reached on an error. Sophomore John D'Aquanno singled following Lugo and scored when freshman Matthew Kerber grounded out, while Tocker scored on a groundout by sophomore Billy Small.
In the sixth, sophomore Jake Hall led off with a home run to left, his fifth round-tripper of the year. Sophomore Matt Alcantara reached on an error and after stealing second scored when Lugo reached on an error on a ball hit to left.
The Knights scored in the bottom of the sixth to up their lead to 11-5 before the Mustangs scored three times in the eighth to pull within 11-8. Kerber singled with runners on first and second, but a throwing error brought in Lugo and D'Aquanno, who led off with back-to-back walks. A Small double down the left field line plated Kerber, but he would be stranded at second as Arcadia registered back-to-back strikeouts. The hosts scored three times in the bottom half to double their advantage to 14-8.
Hall finished 3-5 at the plate, while Kerber and D'Aquanno each had a pair of hits as the Knights outhit the Mustangs 16-11. Senior Alec Romanowski fell to 4-2, working two-plus innings and allowing eight runs on eight hits.
Stevenson and Arcadia are set to play a 1:00 MAC Commonwealth doubleheader at Sugar Field Saturday afternoon.
