Box Score STEVENSON, Md. – Senior Alec Romanowski tossed eight shutout innings while classmate Craig Joseph finished 4-5 at the plate as the Stevenson University baseball team blanked Albright College 7-0 in MAC Commonwealth action at Sugar Field Friday afternoon.
Stevenson (18-20, 9-10 MAC Commonwealth) sits two games ahead of Lebanon Valley for the final spot in the four-team MAC Commonwealth Championship that begins Thursday at Santander Stadium in York, Pa. One Mustang win against Albright (5-27, 1-18 MAC Commonwealth) in Saturday's doubleheader in Reading, Pa. or one Dutchmen loss to Hood in a Saturday twinbill clinches the second straight conference playoff berth for the Mustangs.
Romanowski allowed three hits in his eight shutout innings, striking out seven while walking one. He improved to 5-3 on the season and earned his 18th career victory, one shy of the program record of 19 held by Gary Sanders.
Joseph, whose four hits were a career high, finished with two doubles and two singles as seven of the nine batters in Stevenson's starting lineup got at least one hit. Senior Ian Eberly finished 3-4 with two runs scored, while freshman Matthew Kerber and senior Kevin Kopas had two hits apiece.
Stevenson jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first then tacked on single runs in the third, fourth and sixth frames before plating two runs in the seventh.
Eberly tripled to left to lead off the game for Stevenson and scored when Kerber reached on an error. Kerber moved to second on a single by Joseph, then after moving to third on a groundout, scored on a sac fly by senior Nick Peifer.
In the third Joseph led off with a double to center and eventually scored on an infield single by Peifer. In the fourth, Eberly was hit by a pitch to open the inning and scored on a bases-loaded groundout by Kopas. Kerber made it 5-0 in the sixth when he doubled with one out and after moving to third on a fly ball to right by Joseph, scored on a wild pitch.
In the seventh, senior Matt Myers led off by singling, followed by sophomore Jake Hall getting hit by a pitch. After a sac bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Myers scored on a sac fly to right by sophomore John D'Aquanno. Hall later scored on a single to right-center by Eberly.
Stevenson outhit Albright 14-5 in the contest, with Jeff Yordy collecting a pair of hits. Senior Reid Foxwell recorded the first two outs in relief in the ninth before classmate Matt Hughes finished the game and recorded the final out.
Saturday's doubleheader at Albright is scheduled for a noon start.
