ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Stevenson baseball team went right back to work just 24-hours after losing a three-run lead in the ninth to Lebanon Valley despite senior Billy Small picking up two home runs falling 16-11 in extra innings. On Saturday afternoon the same two teams squared off yet against in conference play with a doubleheader at McGill Field in Annville. In game one it would be the Dutchmen coming out on top 8-6 despite a late rally by Stevenson, but the Mustangs salvaged a game in the three-game set by taking game two 11-7.
In the first game, Stevenson (12-13, 4-7 MAC Commonwealth) got a 2-4 day for sophomore Alex Kidwiler with a double and a run batted in. Small went 1-4 smacking his third home run in two days and fourth of the season. Junior Jordan Moore finished 1-3 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Sophomore Kevin Murray Jr. also chipped in a pair of RBIs. Three other Mustangs added hits and combined for two runs scored.
Stevenson was kept off the scoreboard in their half of the first by Lebanon Valley (7-10, 3-4 MAC Commonwealth) starter Kyle Kingsbury. In the bottom of the frame, the Dutchmen would take an early edge on Mustangs senior starter Michael Remeikis. After back-to-back singles to open things up Josh Marcelli drew a walk to load the bases with one out. TJ Holdredge stepped in and picked up a two-run single with a knock to left-center moving Marcelli to second in the process. Then with two away and the bases still full Josh Herring reached on an infield single to senior third baseman John D'Aquanno plating Marcelli to make it 3-0 before a fielder's choice retired the side. The Green and White struck in the second as a single for senior catcher Jake Dimon and a knock for junior Anthony Millington put two on and two out. Once again it would be clutch two-out hitting that cut into the lead as sophomore Brady Kessler reached on an error to load the bases for junior Matthew Kerber who drew a free pass to plate Moore who came in to run for Dimon. Murray then popped out to end the rally at 3-1.
Kingsbury turned the Mustangs away in the third before his offense would tack on a couple of more in the bottom half. Holdredge led off with a double down the line in left and went to third on a wild pitch. With one gone Nick O'Shea plated the runner on a sacrifice fly to Murray in center. Herring then was issued a free pass and advanced to third thanks to a wild pitch and a stolen base. Jon Harned picked up the second walk of the inning putting men at the corners with two out. Remeikis then attempted to pickoff the man at first but the throw got away and allowed Herring to race home extending the lead to 5-1 after three. With two gone in the top of the fourth Millington who was hit by a pitch and Kessler who was safe on an error stood at second and third for Murray. He bounced one through the left side scoring both men. As the game heading to the last of the frame with the margin at 5-3 the home side would push the advantage to three when a double to left-center by Marcelli knocked in Bryan Towers who had reached on an infield single. Each side added a run in the fifth as Small opened the inning with a homer to deep right-center and Towers picked up an RBI sacrifice fly scoring Herring making it 7-4 at the end of five. Marcelli then hit a home run in the sixth to extend the margin to 8-4 after six.
In the seventh, the Mustangs looked to mount a comeback against reliever Ryan Showalter. D'Aquanno opened things with an infield single and went to second on a wild pitch with one out. After sophomore Mark Terrell grounded out for the second out. That brought Moore to the dish and he delivered with a double to left scoring one. The next batter was Kidwiler who also doubled to right-center plating Moore cutting it to 8-6. Unfortunately, junior pinch-hitter Jonathan Lugo grounded out to end the game.
Stevenson starter Remeikis (3-1) took the loss lasting four innings giving up six runs on nine hits. None of the Mustangs pitchers recorded a strikeout in the game.
In game two, Stevenson (13-13, 5-7 MAC Commonwealth) was led by a pair of 2-4 games by D'Aquanno and Lugo combining for three runs scored and two RBIs. Kerber, Moore, and Kidwiler each scored twice combining to go 2-8 at the dish.
The Mustangs wasted no time striking as they plated five times in the opening frame. Murray reached safely on an error allowing Kerber to scamper home from second after he was hit by a pitch to begin the game. With runners at second and third with one gone Kidwiler was safe on a miscue by Lebanon Valley third baseman letting Murray come in. Then Moore got on with a fielder's choice, but another Dutchmen error allowed D'Aquanno to score. Lugo knocked in Kidwiler with a bunt and Millington laid down a sacrifice to plate Moore. Kessler flew out to left to end the inning at 5-0 thanks to five home errors.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the third when Trevor Bertsch and Towers both were able to produce one-out singles, on the Towers hit an error by the Mustangs let Bertsch advance to third. Then with Marty Kiessling at the dish Towers stole second and then was thrown out at third as Bertsch hustled home. Kiessling would eventually ground out to short to end the frame. Stevenson answered back in the top of the fourth as Kerber walked to leadoff. Then D'Aquanno came to bat and he struck out swinging but on the third strike Kerber stole third and scored on an errant throw by the catcher. Small followed with a groundout to second to retire the side with the lead at 6-1.
Lebanon Valley scored four times in the fifth as Harned scored off an error committed by the shortstop. Marcelli singled and Michael Leri doubled in back-to-back at-bats plating, two men. Colin Albright followed with a groundout to third for out number two allowing Marcelli to cross home. Holdredge would groundout as well to end the rally with the score reading 6-5.
Neither side scored in the sixth, but in inning seven Stevenson broke the game open adding five more runs. Singles from D'Aquanno and Small brought Kidwiler to the plate. He reached on what was the seventh error of the game against the Dutchmen letting both runners come home. Moore then drew a walk putting men on the corners for Lugo. During his at-bat, Moore stole second and an error by the shortstop let him head to third which allowed Kidwiler to score. Lugo eventually singled to knock in one more and Millington came right behind him with a base hit plating Lugo. A fly out from D'Aquanno ended the Mustangs half at 11-5. Lebanon Valley got two in the bottom part as Towers scored on a wild pitch and a double from Holdredge let Leri in trimming it to 11-7, but a groundout by Herring ended the game.
Stevenson sophomore starter Zach Kaye (2-3) went five innings allowing five runs (three earned) on ten hits and struck out two. Senior reliever Eric Prachniak lasted the final two frames surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits.
The Mustangs return to action on Wednesday, April, 11 when they to Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Va. For a non-conference contest. First pitch against the Eagles is set for 4pm.
