ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Stevenson baseball team (14-25-1, 9-7 MACC) dropped both games of a doubleheader to Lebanon Valley (26-13, 13-3 MACC). Stevenson fell 3-4 in a back-and-forth contest in the first game and 4-7 in the second. With the losses, the Mustangs draw their 2022 campaign to a close.

Game One

Six different Mustangs notched lone hits in game one with Brandon Perillo and Alex Russo each picking up RBIs. Jake Pigeon put out a strong performance on the mound, surrendering four runs on six hits with five strikeouts in a 6.1 inning starting effort.

Lebanon Valley threatened to score the game's first run in the bottom of the first, advancing a runner to third with only one out. However, Pigeon was able to force a groundball to first and turnt a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.

Stevenson took an early one run advantage in the second when Dylan Scott reached base on an error allowing Tommy Holcomb to score from second base.

The Dutchmen matched the Stevenson tally in the third with a leadoff double followed by a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to right to plate Ryan Murphy from third.

Murphy tripled to right field in the fifth and scored on a sacrifice fly to center to give Lebanon Valley a 2-1 lead in the fifth.

An inning and a half later, Stevenson knotted the game at two runs a-piece. Trevor Smoot singled to start the inning and was pinch ran for by Kevin Carricato. Carricato reached third by way of a failed pick off and a sacrifice bunt from Dylan Scott. Alex Russo sent a single to left to score Carricato from third to tie the game.

In the home half of the seventh, a single and a walk set the table for Pete Botbyl who singled through the right side, scoring both runners to give the Dutchmen a 4-2 advantage.

The Mustangs loaded the bases in the eighth with one out and converted a lone run on a sacrifice fly to right from Brandon Perillo, narrowing the lead to 3-4. The Stevenson defense rolled another inning-ending double play in the bottom half of the inning to remain within sight of the Dutchmen lead. However, a one-two-three inning in the top of the ninth thwarted the Mustang hopes of a comeback.

Game Two

Jonathan Brandt singled to start the second ballgame, followed by a walk from Billy McAdam setting the table for Amani Jones. Jones belted a homerun over the right field fence, giving Stevenson the early three-run lead.

The Dutchmen responded in the bottom half of the first with a trio of singles, the third coming from Jace Fetterman scoring Conor Smith from second. A homerun from Max Kaplan in the second narrowed the Mustang lead to 3-2.

Stevenson added a tally in the third when Brandt singled up the middle and Tommy Holcomb doubled to left center to score Brandt from first for a 4-2 Stevenson lead.

Lebanon Valley added a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to knot the ballgame at four runs a-piece.

A wild pitch in the sixth and a two-RBI single with bases loaded gave the Dutchmen a 7-4 lead.

Kyle Pellegrino entered in relief in the seventh, striking out the first four batters he faced and retiring the first five before relinquishing a walk. Pellegrino added another strikeout to end the eighth. 

The Mustangs added base runners in each of the final three trips to the plate but were unable to get any to cross the plate, dropping the final game 7-4.

New and Notes

• Amani Jones belted his fourth homer of the season, finishing in a three-way tie to lead the team with Will Mesa and Kevin Carricato.
• The Stevenson defense turned five double plays on the afternoon.
• Kyle Pellegrino pitched two innings in relief without surrendering a hit, adding five strikeouts.
• Tommy Holcomb nocked a double to finish with a team leading 12 on the season.
• Stevenson concluded its 2022 season with a 14-25-1 record overall and a 9-7 record in MAC Commonwealth play.